patchouli
or pach·ou·li, patch·ou·ly
[ pach-oo-lee, puh-choo-lee ]
/ ˈpætʃ ʊ li, pəˈtʃu li /
|
noun
a plant, Pogostemon cablin, of tropical Asia, that yields a fragrant oil (patchouli oil) used in the manufacture of perfumes.
a penetrating perfume made from this oil.
Nearby words
patch up, patch-up, patchen, patchen, kenneth, patchogue, patchouli, patchstand, patchwork, patchy, patd, patd.
Origin of patchouli
First recorded in 1835–45, patchouli is from the Tamil word paccuḷi
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for patchouli
British Dictionary definitions for patchouli
patchouli
pachouli or patchouly
/ (ˈpætʃʊlɪ, pəˈtʃuːlɪ) /
noun
any of several Asiatic trees of the genus Pogostemon, the leaves of which yield a heavy fragrant oil: family Lamiaceae (labiates)
the perfume made from this oil
Word Origin for patchouli
C19: from Tamil paccilai, from paccu green + ilai leaf
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for patchouli
patchouli
perfume made from an Indian plant of the mint family, 1845, from the native name for the plant in Madras, said to be from Tamil pachchai "green" + ilai "leaf." The form of the word appears French, but this has not been explained and the record of it in English predates that in French.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper