anacahuita

noun an·a·ca·hui·ta \ ˌanəkəˈwētə \

variants: or anacahuite \", -ēˌtā\

Definition of anacahuita

plural -s

: a small aromatic tree (Cordia boissieri) found in Texas and Mexico, having yellowish white flowers, and used medicinally

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Origin and Etymology of anacahuita

borrowed from Mexican Spanish anacahuita, anacahuite, nacahuita, nacahuite, probably borrowed from Nahuatl āmacuahuitl “tree (as Ficus insipida and related species) from which bark for paper is obtained,” from āmatl “paper” + cuahuitl “tree”

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First Known Use: 1861

in the meaning defined above

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