areca

American  

[uh-ree-kuh, ar-i-] / əˈri kə, ˈær ɪ- /

noun

1. any tropical Asian palm of the genus Areca, as the betel palm.

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areca British  

/ ˈærɪkə, əˈriːkə /

noun

1. any of various tall palms of the genus Areca, which are native to SE Asia and have white flowers and orange or red egg-shaped nuts

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Etymology

Origin of areca

First recorded in 1500–10; from New Latin (earlier English spellings reflect Portuguese or French ); all ultimately from Malayalam aṭaykka

Example Sentences

The chewing of betel nut, the seed of the Areca palm, is common across Asia and the Pacific.

From BBC • Oct. 11, 2017

Areca Nut Nut "eaten" by the Indians with betel leaf or lime.

From Things as They Are Mission Work in Southern India by Carmichael, Amy

These are the Areca palm, and the Betel shrub.

From Narrative of the Circumnavigation of the Globe by the Austrian Frigate Novara, Volume II (Commodore B. Von Wullerstorf-Urbair,) Undertaken by Order of the Imperial Government in the Years 1857, 1858, & 1859, Under the Immediate Auspices of His I. and R. Highness the Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, Commander-In-Chief of the Austrian Navy. by Scherzer, Karl Ritter von

Karl recognised the tree as the Areca catechu, or betel-nut palm—by many considered the most beautiful palm of India.

From The Plant Hunters Adventures Among the Himalaya Mountains by Reid, Mayne

The leaf of Piper betel, handed to guests at ceremonial entertainments, along with the nut of Areca catechu, made up in a packet of gold or silver leaf.

From Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official by Sleeman, William