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patchouli
or pach·ou·li, patch·ou·ly
[ pach-oo-lee, puh-choo-lee ]
/ ˈpætʃ ʊ li, pəˈtʃu li /
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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.
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Origin of patchouli
First recorded in 1835–45, patchouli is from the Tamil word paccuḷi
Words nearby patchouli
patch, patch board, patch cord, Patchen, Patchogue, patchouli, patch pocket, patch quilt, patch reef, patchstand, patch test
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use patchouli in a sentence
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
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