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Webster 1913 Edition

Catechu

Cat′e-chu

,
Noun.
[See
Cashoo
.]
(Chem.)
A dry, brown, astringent extract, obtained by decoction and evaporation from the
Acacia catechu
, and several other plants growing in India. It contains a large portion of tannin or tannic acid, and is used in medicine and in the arts. It is also known by the names
terra japonica
,
cutch
,
gambier
, etc.
Ure.
Dunglison.

Webster 1828 Edition

Catechu

CATECHU

,
Noun.
Terra Japonica, a dry extract, or brown astringent substance, obtained by decoction and evaporation from a species of Mimosa in India. It consists chiefly of tannin.

Definition 2024

catechu

catechu

English

Noun

catechu ‎(plural catechus)

  1. A gummy extract of any of several species of Acacieae, produced by boiling the wood of the tree in water and evaporating the resulting liquid.
    • 1837, Jonathan Pereira, “Lectures on Materia Medica: Lecture LXI”, in London Medical Gazette, volume XX, page 107:
      The pale catechus are usually sweeter and more pleasant for chewing.
Translations

Synonyms

See also

Etymology

Probably a corruption of the Malay kacu.

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