chirayita
|chi-ra-yi-ta|
/tʃɪˈraɪɪtə/
bitter medicinal herb
Etymology
'chirayita' originates from Hindi/Nepali, specifically the local name 'chiraita' (or similar regional forms), where it referred to the plant now known botanically as Swertia chirayita.
'chirayita' entered English as a botanical borrowing from South Asian vernaculars during the period of European botanical exploration; it has been used alongside the Latin binomial 'Swertia chirayita' in medical and botanical texts.
Initially it referred primarily to the living plant in local medicinal use; over time in English it has come to refer also to commercial herbal preparations and extracts made from that plant.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a bitter medicinal plant (Swertia chirayita) used in traditional Ayurvedic and Himalayan herbal medicine; also used to refer to preparations made from the plant (bitter tonic, antipyretic, digestive aid).
Chirayita is commonly used in traditional Ayurvedic remedies as a bitter tonic and to help reduce fever.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/11 19:58