vetiver

[ vet-uh-ver ]
/ ˈvɛt ə vər /

noun

the long, fibrous, aromatic roots of an East Indian grass, Vetiveria zizanioides, used for making hangings and screens and yielding an oil used in perfumery.
Also called khus-khus. the grass itself.

Origin of vetiver

First recorded in 1840–50, vetiver is from the Tamil word veṭṭivēr

Words nearby vetiver

veterinary, veterinary anatomy, veterinary medicine, veterinary surgeon, veterinary technician, vetiver, vetivert, vetluga, veto, vetter, vex

Example sentences from the Web for vetiver

  • She would go into ecstasies on breathing in the patchouli and vetiver used for Cashmere shawls.

    My Private Menagerie |Theophile Gautier

  • The women powder their hair with an odorous substance obtained from the berries of the vetiver.

    Indo-China and Its Primitive People |Henry Baudesson

British Dictionary definitions for vetiver

vetiver
/ (ˈvɛtɪvə) /

noun

a tall hairless grass, Vetiveria zizanioides, of tropical and subtropical Asia, having aromatic roots and stiff long narrow ornamental leaves
the root of this plant used for making screens, mats, etc, and yielding a fragrant oil used in perfumery, medicine, etc

Word Origin for vetiver

C19: from French vétiver, from Tamil vettivẽru