buchu

American  

[boo-koo, byoo-kyoo] / ˈbu ku, ˈbyu kyu /

noun

1. any of several southern African citrus shrubs of the genus Agathosma or the genus Diosma, especially A. betulina, A. crenulata, or D. ericoides, whose leaves yield a dark-colored oil formerly used as a urinary antiseptic and mild diuretic.

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buchu British  

/ ˈbuːkuː /

noun

1. any of several S. African rutaceous shrubs of the genus Barosma , esp B. betulina , whose leaves are used as an antiseptic and diuretic

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Etymology

Origin of buchu

1725–35; < Afrikaans (now spelling boegoe ) < Khoikhoi, first attested as boggoa (1668)

Example Sentences

During the day, I was prepping and tasting healthy stuff — green beans, spinach, buchu, daikon, snow peas, garlic, galangal.

From Salon • May 23, 2025

And Pernod Ricard launched a non-alcoholic version of gin, along with Cinzano Spritz 0% and Ceder’s, a gin-like non-alcoholic beverage with botanical notes of juniper, rooibos and buchu.

From Salon • Jan. 18, 2025

I could sprinkle it, Sprinkle it with buchu under its arms.

From Outa Karel's Stories South African Folk-Lore Tales by Metelerkamp, Sanni

They are all good, but buchu is the best.

From Outa Karel's Stories South African Folk-Lore Tales by Metelerkamp, Sanni

The bodies of both sexes are smeared with a native ointment, buchu, which, aided by accretions of dust and dirt, soon forms a coating like a rind.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 4 "Bulgaria" to "Calgary" by Various