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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.

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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. 2020

Example sentences 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