henna
(ˈhɛnə)
Also 7 hena, hanna, hina, 8–9 hinna(h, 9 hennah.
[a. Arab. ḥennāﻋ. See also alcanna.]
a. The Egyptian Privet, Lawsonia inermis (N.O. Lythraceæ); the shoots and leaves of this plant used, esp. by eastern nations, as a dye for parts of the body, or made into a cosmetic with catechu.
| 1600 J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa i. 22 They have no oyle of olives, but of another kinde which they call Hena..in colour it is as beautifull as gold. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 637 Their women..with a certaine colour in their hand called Hanna, which will staine. 1678 J. Phillips tr. Tavernier's Trav. (1684) I. i. 44 (Stanf.) Another sort of Water with which they dye their Hands and Nails red, which they squeeze out of a certaine Root call'd Hina. 1748 Phil. Trans. XLV. 570 Called Henna, or Alhenna, and, by Corruption, Alkanna. 1791 T. Newte Tour Eng. & Scotl. 50 A large quantity of the herb hinna is sent by the bride-groom to the house of the bride. 1872 Baker Nile Tribut. i. 3 The henna grows in considerable quantities on the left bank of the river. |
b. attrib. and
Comb., as
henna-scented adj.; (with reference to dyeing or staining with henna)
henna-dyeing;
henna-coloured,
henna-dyed,
henna-haired,
henna-tipped,
henna-tressed adjs.| 1954 M. Mead Growing up in New Guinea 143 *Henna-coloured betel juice. |
| 1920 Chambers's Jrnl. May 299/1 He..showed a handful of his *henna-dyed beard. |
| 1906 Daily Chron. 27 June 6/4 From tight-lacing to *henna-dyeing the frisky matron is a study in successful artifice. |
| 1885 Bible (R.V.) Song Sol. i. 14 My beloved is unto me as a cluster of *henna-flowers. |
| 1907 Daily Chron. 31 Dec. 3/1 His American trotting-car and his *henna-haired wife. |
| 1858 Carpenter Veg. Phys. §369 The *Henna-juice..is a very permanent brown dye. |
| 1923 Chambers's Jrnl. 306/2 Their henna-tipped fingers are loaded with rings. |
| 1841 Lane Arab. Nts. I. iii. 137 (Stanf.) Sprigs of the *henna-tree. |
| 1939 R. Campbell Flowering Rifle i. 24 Amongst her Modern Southeys, henna-tressed. |