catechu

cat·e·chu

 (kăt′ə-cho͞o′)

n.

1. A spiny Asian tree (Acacia catechu) having bipinnately compound leaves, spikes of yellow flowers, and dark heartwood.

2. A raw material obtained from the heartwood of this plant, used in the preparation of tannins and brown dyes. In both senses also called cutch.

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[Probably from Malay kachu, probably from Dravidian karaiyal, karaiccal, that which is dissolved, from karai, to melt.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

catechu

(ˈkætɪˌtʃuː) ,

cachou

or

cutch

n

(Elements & Compounds) a water-soluble astringent resinous substance obtained from any of certain tropical plants, esp the leguminous tree Acacia catechu of S Asia, and used in medicine, tanning, and dyeing. See also gambier

[C17: probably from Malay kachu, of Dravidian origin]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

cat•e•chu

(ˈkæt ɪˌtʃu, -ˌkyu)

n.

any of several astringent substances obtained from various tropical Asian plants, esp. two East Indian acacias, Acacia catechu and A. suma: used in medicine, dyeing, tanning, etc. Also called cutch.

[1670–80; < New Latin < Portuguese]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	catechu - extract of the heartwood of Acacia catechu used for dyeing and tanning and preserving fishnets and sails; formerly used medicinally black catechu Acacia catechu, catechu, Jerusalem thorn - East Indian spiny tree having twice-pinnate leaves and yellow flowers followed by flat pods; source of black catechu extract, infusion - a solution obtained by steeping or soaking a substance (usually in water)
	2.	catechu - East Indian spiny tree having twice-pinnate leaves and yellow flowers followed by flat pods; source of black catechu Acacia catechu, Jerusalem thorn genus Acacia - large genus of shrubs and trees and some woody vines of Central and South America, Africa, Australia and Polynesia: wattle; mimosa acacia - any of various spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Acacia black catechu, catechu - extract of the heartwood of Acacia catechu used for dyeing and tanning and preserving fishnets and sails; formerly used medicinally

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