/ˈbiːtəl/
OriginBorrowed from Portuguese bétele, from Malayalam വെറ്റില (veṟṟila) or Tamil வெற்றிலை (veṟṟilai).
- uncountable, usuallyEither of two (parts of) plants often used in combination
“Her face was flushed with the tingling effect of betel leaves.”
- uncountable, usuallyAn evergreen Indian creeping shrub, Piper betle, whose dried leaves are chewed with betel nut: the betel pepper.
- uncountable, usuallyThe betel palm, Areca catechu, and in particular its seed, the areca nut or betel nut.
- uncountable, usuallyA quid (chewing preparation) containing these and other plant materials; paan.
“In a small Bamboo case, prettily carved and ornamented, the Dyak carries his sirih and lime for betel chewing, and his little long-bladed knife has a Bamboo sheath.”
“He went to the rail to spit out a scarlet mouthful of betel […]”
“Within the range of his powers, he sends her, secretly, […] cosmetics such as red lac, red arsenic, yellow arsenic, red mercury sulphide, and black collyrium; sandalwood paste and saffron; and, in cou”
Formsbetels(plural) · beetel(alternative, archaic) · beetle(alternative, archaic)