kava

American  

[kah-vuh] / ˈkɑ və /

noun

1. a Polynesian shrub, Piper methysticum, of the pepper family, the aromatic roots of which are used to make an intoxicating beverage.

2. the beverage made from these roots.

---

kava British  

/ ˈkɑːvə /

noun

1. a Polynesian shrub, Piper methysticum: family Piperaceae

2. a drink prepared from the aromatic roots of this shrub

---

Other Word Forms

• Kavaic adjective

Etymology

Origin of kava

1810–20; < Polynesian (first recorded from Tonga Islands)

Example Sentences

In 1915, Hollmann was the acting assistant surgeon at Hawaii’s Leprosy Investigation Station when he was given a copy of Ball’s master’s thesis, a 44-page analysis of the kava plant’s chemical properties.

From New York Times • Apr. 8, 2023

To prepare kava the traditional way, you will need a muslin bag, which you can find at craft stores, or a mesh kava bag.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 28, 2021

“In areas with tree cover, the kava was saved since the trees created natural windbreaks, branches that fell formed a protective blanket. But where there were no trees the crops were completely uprooted,” he said.

From The Guardian • Feb. 19, 2020

The farm used to produce mainly sandalwood, but has recently started growing a kava crop, too.

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2019

After the evening repast came the kava ceremony.

From Fifty-One Years of Victorian Life by Child-Villiers, Margaret Elizabeth Leigh