‖ Terra Japonica
(ˌtɛrə dʒəˈpɒnɪkə)
[mod.L., = ‘Japanese earth’: see note s.v. catechu. So F. terre du Japon.]
= catechu, formerly also known as Japonic earth.
| [1654, 1679,] 1683 [see catechu]. 1693 tr. Blancard's Phys. Dict. (ed. 2), Catechu, improperly called Terra Japonica. 1725 Lond. Gaz. No. 6366/1 Half a Ton of Terra Japannica. 1845 Encycl. Metrop. XXII. 474/1 The exports from Népál are rice, ginger, terra Japonica (i.e. the gum, or inspissated juice of the Mimosa catechu). |