cowhage

[ kou-ij ]
/ ˈkaʊ ɪdʒ /

noun

Definition for cowhage (2 of 2)

cowage

or cow·hage, cow·itch

[ kou-ij ]
/ ˈkaʊ ɪdʒ /

noun

a tropical vine, Mucuna pruriens, of the legume family, bearing reddish or blackish pods.
the pod itself, covered with bristlelike hairs that are irritating to the skin and cause intense itching.
the hairs of the cowage mixed with a liquid vehicle and used to expel intestinal worms.

Origin of cowage

1630–40; < Hindi kãũch, kēvā̃c (compare kavac any husk or pod), reshaped in E by folk etymology

Example sentences from the Web for cowhage

British Dictionary definitions for cowhage

cowage

cowhage

/ (ˈkaʊɪdʒ) /

noun

a tropical climbing leguminous plant, Stizolobium (or Mucuna) pruriens, whose bristly pods cause severe itching and stinging
the pods of this plant or the stinging hairs covering them

Word Origin for cowage

C17: from Hindi kavāch, of obscure origin