catechu

[ kat-i-choo, -kyoo ]

noun

1. any of several astringent substances obtained from various tropical plants, especially from the wood of two East Indian acacias, Acacia catechu and A. suma: used in medicine, dyeing, tanning, etc.

catechu

/ ˈkætɪˌtʃuː /

noun

1. a water-soluble astringent resinous substance obtained from any of certain tropical plants, esp the leguminous tree Acacia catechu of S Asia, and used in medicine, tanning, and dyeing See also gambier

Word History and Origins

Origin of catechu¹

1670–80; < New Latin < Portuguese; perhaps a conflation of Marathi kāt catechu and kāccu, with same sense, alleged to be < Malayalam; cashoo, cutch perhaps < Malay kacu < Malayalam, or a cognate Dravidian word

Word History and Origins

Origin of catechu¹

C17: probably from Malay kachu, of Dravidian origin

Example Sentences

Some traders will add a dab of catechu, a brown dye from the acacia tree, on its shoulder feathers to make it resemble the less common, more expensive Alexandrine parakeet.

From National Geographic

The preparation of henna consists in reducing the leaves and young twigs to a fine powder, catechu or lucerne leaves 272 in a pulverized state being sometimes mixed with them.

From Project Gutenberg

Take of prepared chalk, one ounce; powdered catechu, half an ounce; powdered Jamaica ginger, two drachms; and powdered opium, half a drachm; mix with half a pint of peppermint water; give two or three table-spoonfuls morning and night to a grown sheep, and half that quantity to a lamb.

From Project Gutenberg

In a large number of cases nothing more is necessary than the use of means to check the action of the bowels, and which should consist of absorbents or antacids, astringents, and opiates as they are contained in the officinal chalk mixture, with the addition of tincture of kino or catechu and a small proportion of laudanum.

From Project Gutenberg

Kino, kē′no, n. an astringent vegetable exudation resembling catechu.

From Project Gutenberg