Dictionary

kava en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /kɑː.və/ (UK)
• (US) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Oceanic *kawaʀ Proto-Polynesian *kawa Tongan kavader. English kava From Tongan kava, in turn from Proto-Polynesian *kawa. Doublet of ʻawa, ava, kawa, and yava.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) Any member of the species Piper methysticum, a plant from the South Pacific.
2. (countable, uncountable) An intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant.
   • The Nationals MP suffered the consequences of drinking an entire shell of sakau – a traditional Micronesian kava with sedative qualities made from the root of the pepper plant – in one hit, thinking it was similar to South Pacific kava. […] While not alcoholic, sakau – like other kavas served throughout the Pacific region – is known for its narcotic sedative effect. 2022 December 16, Amy Remeikis, “‘I went cross-eyed’: Australia’s former deputy PM taken to hospital after drinking entire bowl of kava”, in The Guardian:
   • The roots produce a liqueur called kava. Kava has a mild aphrodisiac effect. 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 132:

Forms

Deriveds

kavapyrone · kavaic acid · kavalactone

Relateds

kavakava

Translations (42)

mlv ga (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · cs kava (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · fr kawa (the plant Piper methysticum) · fr kava (the plant Piper methysticum) · fr kava (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · sm ʻava (the plant Piper methysticum) · nmb m'aləh (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · ja カヴァ (the plant Piper methysticum) · ru ка́ва (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · mi kawa (the plant Piper methysticum) · ru кава-ка́ва (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · ru пе́рец опьяня́ющий (the plant Piper methysticum) · lht gi (the plant Piper methysticum) · cs kava (the plant Piper methysticum) · pon sakau (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · ru ка́ва (the plant Piper methysticum) · hiw ga (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · ru кава-ка́ва (the plant Piper methysticum) · fj yaqona (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · haw ʻawa (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · mlv ga (the plant Piper methysticum) · ro kava (the plant Piper methysticum) · ro kava (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · hi कावा (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · lht gi (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · eo kavao (the plant Piper methysticum) · bi kava (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · pon sakau (the plant Piper methysticum) · fr kawa (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · rap ꞌava (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · nmb m'aləh (the plant Piper methysticum) · to kava (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · sm 'ava (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · cmn 卡瓦 (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · fj yaqona (the plant Piper methysticum) · haw ʻawa (the plant Piper methysticum) · hiw ga (the plant Piper methysticum) · ar كَافَا (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · chk sakau (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · ja カヴァ (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · ty kava (intoxicating beverage made from the kava plant) · to kava (the plant Piper methysticum)