▪ I. betel
(ˈbiːt(ə)l)
Forms; 6 betola, bettel(l, 6–7 bettele, 7 betele, betell, bethel, betre, bettaile, bettle, 7–9 betle, beetle, 8 betelle, 7– betel.
[Prob. immed. a. Pg. betel (Varthema 1510), betele, formerly also vitele, betle, betre, ad. Malayâlam vettila (in Tamil vettilei; cf. Skr. vîti ‘betel’).]
1. a. The leaf of a plant, which is wrapped round a few parings of the areca nut (see 2) and a little shell lime, and chewed by the natives of India and neighbouring countries as a masticatory. b. Also the shrubby evergreen plant (Piper betle or Chavica betel, family Piperaceæ) which yields this leaf; called also betel-pepper, betel-vine. c. Hence comb. and attrib., as betel-box, betel-carrier, betel-server; betel-leaf, etc.
| 1585 Lloyd Treas. Health N iij, Take of Cloves..of bettels, of Galingale. 1598 W. Phillip Linschoten's Trav. Ind. (1864) 183 They doe nothing, but sit and chaw Leaues or Herbes, called Bettele with Chaulke and a certaine Fruit called Arrequa. a 1626 Bacon Sylva §738 Betell is but champed in the Mouth, with a little Lime. 1697 W. Dampier Voy. (1729) II. i. 24 The Betle of Tonquin is said to be the best in India. 1851 R. Burton Goa 106 The Gentoo will..chew his betel, and squirt the scarlet juice all over the floor. 1871 S. Mateer Travancore 97 Betel is the dark green heart-shaped leaf of a kind of climbing pepper plant, which grows like hops on poles. |
| b. 1553 Eden Treat. New Ind. (Arb.) 21 The herbe called Betola. 1606 E. Scott E. Indians N ij, A certaine hearbe called bettaile. 1611 Cotgr., Tambu, the bastard Pepper plant called Bettle or Betre. 1633 H. Cogan Pinto's Trav. (1663) 263 Bethel, an herb whose leaves..these Pagans are accustomed to chaw. 1859 R. Burton Centr. Afr. in Jrnl. R.G.S. XXIX. 47 note, The betel pepper..resembles the piper betel, or betel vine of India. 1866 Treas. Bot. 88 These nuts are rolled up with a little lime in leaves of the betle-pepper. |
| c. 1681 R. Knox Hist. Ceylon 18 The Tree that bears the Betel-leaf..growes like Ivy. 1779 Forrest Voy. N. Guinea 14 The beetle leaf, which all East Indians chew. |
2. betel nut: the nut or fruit of the Areca Palm (see areca); so misnamed (by Europeans) because it is chewed with the betel leaf. Hence betel-nut-tree, betel-tree, Areca Catechu; betel(nut) palm, the Areca palm, Areca catechu, from which the ‘betel nut’ or areca nut is obtained.
| 1673 Fryer New Acct. E. Ind. 40 [Calls areca beetle, and v.v.]. 1681 R. Knox Hist. Ceylon 97 Betle-nuts, 4000 nine pence Currant price. 1697 W. Dampier Voy. (1729) I. 318 The Betel-Tree grows like the Cabbage-Tree..On the top of the Tree among the Branches the Betel-Nut grows. 1772 Ld. Clive in Weekly Mag. 117/2 The privilege of free trade in beetle-nut being taken away. 1858 Carpenter Veg. Phys. §370 Betel-nuts are chewed by the natives of Hindoostan. 1861 Bentley Man. Bot. 684 The Catechu or Betel Nut Palm. 1875 Encycl. Brit. III. 616/2 The betel nut is the fruit of the Areca or betel palm, Areca Catechu. |
▪ II. betel, -ll(e
obs. form of beetle.