Dictionary

beetel en · NOUN

Etymology

Borrowed from Portuguese bétele, from Malayalam വെറ്റില (veṟṟila) or Tamil வெற்றிலை (veṟṟilai).

Meanings

1. (alt-of, obsolete, uncountable, usually) Obsolete spelling of betel.
   alt of betel
   • When we returned to the house in which we resided, we were visited by several merchants from Mooltan and Shikapoor*, with whom we had a great deal of chat on different subjects connected with trade; and after treating them with Beetel, or Areca nut, and cloves, which is the practice here, sent them away, deeply impressed with a favourable notion of our commercial skills and abilities. 2004, Henry Pottinger, The Great Game: Britain and Russia in Central Asia, Routledge, page 389:
   • Mention is made of a battle at p. 389, in which the rajah appeared on an elephant, in a chair covered with a canopy set with precious stones, and that he had two beautiful slave girls with him, one to serve him with wine and the other with beetel leaf and areca nut. 1816, The British Critic, and Quarterly Theological Review, Volume 6, F. and C. Rivington, page 490:
   • She held a small basket, having beetel leaves in it, with one hand, and with the other, whilst walking seven times round the grave, she distributed sugar-plums, and shells, called cowries, among the crowd, who appeared extremely anxious to catch those consecrated donations. 1825, Thomas Smith, The History and Origin of the Missionary Societies, etc. (Appendix.), T. Kelly, page 244:
   • The patient who would cure himself of fever and headache must scatter black sand, and offer camphor, sandal, flowers, beetel leaves, and all sorts of fragrance; two arches should be formed, wreathed with plantain leaves on both sides, and a cock should be sacrificed as a victim on the occasion. 1834, New Monthly Magazine and Literary Journal, E.W. Allen, page 346:

Forms

Deriveds

beetel nut · beetel leaf