catechu

American  

[kat-i-choo, -kyoo] / ˈkæt ɪˌtʃu, -ˌkyu /

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.

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catechu British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of catechu

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

Example Sentences

When the extract has become sufficiently thick it is cast into the forms in which the catechu is found in commerce.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 5 "Cat" to "Celt" by Various

A very minute proportion of quercetin, a principle yielded by quercitron bark, has been obtained from catechu.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 5 "Cat" to "Celt" by Various

As soon as the ulcerations assume a healthy appearance, touch them with Turlington's balsam or tincture of gum catechu.

From The American Reformed Cattle Doctor by Dadd, George

A kind of catechu is obtained by boiling down the seeds to the consistence of an extract, but the chief supply of this drug is Acacia catechu.

From Catalogue of Economic Plants in the Collection of the U. S. Department of Agriculture by Saunders, William

The pulvis catechu compositus contains catechu and kino, and may be given in doses twice as large as those named.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 5 "Cat" to "Celt" by Various