peyote
|pey-o-te|
🇺🇸
/ˈpaɪ.oʊti/
🇬🇧
/ˈpaɪəʊti/
psychoactive cactus / drug
Etymology
'peyote' originates from Nahuatl, specifically the word 'peyotl', where 'peyotl' meant 'peyote (an intoxicating plant)'.
'peyote' entered Spanish as 'peyote' from Nahuatl 'peyotl' and was borrowed into English (recorded from the 19th century) with little change in form.
Initially, it meant 'the peyote cactus' in Nahuatl and Spanish; over time in English it came also to mean 'the psychoactive drug (containing mescaline) derived from the cactus.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a small, spineless cactus (Lophophora williamsii) native to Mexico and the southwestern United States, known for its psychoactive alkaloids.
The Native American group used peyote in their traditional ceremonies.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/06 20:10