betel
|be-tel|
/ˈbiːtəl/
leaf chewed as a mild stimulant
Etymology
'betel' originates from Portuguese 'betel', ultimately from Tamil 'vēṭṭilai' or Malayalam 'vettila', where these words meant 'betel leaf'.
'betel' entered Portuguese from Dravidian languages (Tamil/Malayalam) as 'vēṭṭilai'/'vettila' and was taken into European languages as 'betel', later becoming the English word 'betel'.
Initially, it specifically referred to the betel leaf used for chewing; over time the English word 'betel' has retained that core meaning, also extending to refer to the plant itself.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the leaf of the betel pepper (Piper betle), often chewed alone or with areca nut as a mild stimulant and mouth freshener; used in many South and Southeast Asian cultures.
After the meal, she offered guests betel wrapped with areca nut.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/16 01:08