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

Catechu tannin and catechin are compounds of the catechol tannin type.

From The Chemistry of Plant Life by Thatcher, Roscoe Wilfred

The catechu which is obtained in India from the Bonga differs from that obtained from the Acacia Catechu and is a tonic analogous to rhatany and cinchona.

From The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by Thomas, Jerome Beers

The Subah, being a merchant of Banaras, keeps the Catechu at his own disposal, and, besides the duties, has probably much profit on this article as a merchant.

From An Account of The Kingdom of Nepal And of the Territories Annexed to this Dominion by the House of Gorkha by Hamilton, Francis

Chrome is used for browns and other colours with Catechu.

From Vegetable Dyes Being a Book of Recipes and Other Information Useful to the Dyer by Mairet, Ethel M.

Catechu is a valuable brown dyestuff, obtained from various species of Acacia, Areca and Uncaria growing in India.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 8 "Dubner" to "Dyeing" by Various