catechu

cat·e·chu

noun \ˈka-tə-ˌchü, -ˌshü\

Definition of CATECHU

: any of several dry, earthy, or resinous astringent substances obtained from tropical plants of Asia: as

a : an extract of the heartwood of an East Indian acacia (Acacia catechu)

b : gambier

Origin of CATECHU

probably modification of Malay kachu, of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil & Kannada kācu catechu

First Known Use: 1683

Rhymes with CATECHU

aperçu, avenue, babassu, baby blue, ballyhoo, barbecue, billet-doux, bird's-eye view, black-and-blue, buckaroo, bugaboo, callaloo, caribou, clerihew, cobalt blue, cockapoo, cockatoo, Cotonou, counterview, curlicue, déjà vu, derring-do, detinue, feverfew, follow-through, gardyloo, hitherto, honeydew, ingenue, interview, IOU, Irish stew, jabiru, Jiangsu, kangaroo, Kathmandu, kinkajou, loup-garou, Makalu, manitou, marabou, McAdoo, microbrew, midnight blue, Montague, Montesquieu, Mountain View, ormolu, overdo, overdue, overshoe, overstrew, overview, parvenu, parvenue, pas de deux, passe-partout, pay-per-view, PDQ, peacock blue, peekaboo, peer review, petting zoo, Pompidou, Port Salut, rendezvous, residue, retinue, revenue, Roh Tae Woo, seppuku, Shikoku, sneak preview, succès fou, switcheroo, talking-to, teleview, Telugu, thereunto, thirty-two, thitherto, Timbuktu, tinamou, twenty-two, view halloo, vindaloo, w, wallaroo, waterloo, well-to-do, what have you, whoop-de-do, witches' brew, Xanadu

cat·e·chu

noun \ˈkat-ə-ˌchü, -ˌshü\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of CATECHU

: any of several dry, earthy, or resinous astringent substances obtained from tropical plants of Asia: as a : an extract of the heartwood of an East Indian acacia (Acacia catechu) that was formerly used in medicine b : gambier