beetel
English
Etymology
Borrowed from Portuguese bétele, from Malayalam വെറ്റില (veṟṟila) or Tamil வெற்றிலை (veṟṟilai).
Noun
beetel (usually uncountable, plural beetels)
- Alternative spelling of betel.
- 1816, The British Critic, and Quarterly Theological Review, Volume 6, F. and C. Rivington, page 490:
- 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.
- 1825, Thomas Smith, The History and Origin of the Missionary Societies, etc. (Appendix.), T. Kelly, page 244:
- 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.
- 1834, New Monthly Magazine and Literary Journal, E.W. Allen, page 346:
- 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.
- 2004, Henry Pottinger, The Great Game: Britain and Russia in Central Asia, Routledge, page 389:
- 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.