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catechu

(kat′ə c̸ho̵̅o̅′, -kyo̵̅o̅′)

noun

a hard, brown substance obtained from an Asiatic acacia (Acacia catechu) and other Asiatic trees and shrubs: used as an astringent in medicine, and for dyeing, tanning, etc.

Origin: ModL < Malay kachu

See catechu in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. A spiny Asian tree (Acacia catechu) having bipinnately compound leaves, spikes of yellow flowers, and dark heartwood.
b. A raw material obtained from the heartwood of this plant, used in the preparation of tannins and brown dyes. Also called cutch.
See betel palm.

Origin:

Origin: Probably from Malay kachu

Origin: , probably from Dravidian karaiyal, karaiccal, that which is dissolved

Origin: , from karai, to melt

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