betel

[ beet-l ]

/ ˈbit l /

an East Indian pepper plant, Piper betle, the leaves of which are chewed with other ingredients.

Origin of betel

1545–55; < Portuguese bétele, bétere < Malayalam viṟṟila or Tamil veṟṟilai

Later, if they decide to separate, the couple must break a betel nut to break the union.

A Little Too Off the Beaten Path in Burma |Katya Cengel |June 2, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Another ugly habit is the chewing of betel, the nut of the areca palm, which is mixed with pepper leaves and lime.

Two Years with the Natives in the Western Pacific |Felix Speiser
Then the relatives sit around on the floor in a circle and each one lays on the tray his offering of betel nut to the deceased.

The Manbos of Mindano |John M. Garvan
This he places, with betel leaves and areca nuts, near the grave.

Omens and Superstitions of Southern India |Edgar Thurston

But the remarkable thing is that the betel nut has these effects only on the Hindu constitution.

Concerning Animals and Other Matters |E.H. Aitken, (AKA Edward Hamilton)
He receives small fees at domestic ceremonies, is entitled to the first betel and nut, and settles caste disputes.

Castes and Tribes of Southern India |Edgar Thurston

betel

/ (ˈbiːtəl) /

an Asian piperaceous climbing plant, Piper betle, the leaves of which are chewed, with the betel nut, by the peoples of SE Asia

C16: from Portuguese, from Malayalam vettila