cubeb

American  

[kyoo-beb] / ˈkyu bɛb /

noun

1. the spicy fruit or drupe of an East Indian climbing shrub, Piper cubeba, of the pepper family.

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cubeb British  

/ ˈkjuːbɛb /

noun

1. a SE Asian treelike piperaceous woody climbing plant, Piper cubeba, with brownish berries

2. the unripe spicy fruit of this plant, dried and used as a stimulant and diuretic and sometimes smoked in cigarettes

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Etymology

Origin of cubeb

1250–1300; < Medieval Latin cubēba < Arabic kubābah (classical Arabic kabābah ); replacing Middle English cucube, quibibe < Anglo-French, Middle French < Medieval Latin, as above

Example Sentences

Make the jollof dry spice mix: In a medium bowl, combine the ginger, thyme, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt and cubeb pepper until combined.

From Washington Post • Sep. 2, 2021

The cubeb is cultivated in Java and Sumatra, the fruits are gathered before they are ripe, and carefully dried.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 8 "Cube" to "Daguerre, Louis" by Various

The inducement to this identification was no doubt the singular resemblance which the word bears to the Javanese name of cubeb pepper, viz.,

From The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 2 by Yule, Henry

Tish was knitting quietly and planning to give the money back to the town in the shape of a library, and Aggie was holding a cubeb cigarette to her nose.

From Tish by Rinehart, Mary Roberts

Ordinarily, when afflicted by a catarrhal visitation, it is my habit to use for alleviation cubeb cigarettes.

From Fibble, D.D. by Sarg, Tony

Related Words

• smoke