betel leaf
1
7.7
- noun
- Indian
:
hoja de betel
- chewing a betel leaf
Examples
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From time to time along the road we come upon old women sitting on the earth with little stores of nuts, lime, and betel leaves spread before them for the refreshment of the wayfarer.
Blog text (22) -
The vendor skillfully wrapped areca nut and slaked lime in a betel leaf for his customers.
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In many Asian cultures, it is common to offer a guest a betel leaf filled with tobacco and spices.
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After a hearty meal, it is customary for some to chew a betel leaf as a digestive aid.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A leaf people chew with areca nut in parts of South and Southeast Asia
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase denotes the leaf of the betel plant and is directly compositional from 'betel' (the plant) + 'leaf' (a plant leaf), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to that plant's leaf. Cultural uses (chewing with areca nut) are additional encyclopedic knowledge but do not affect the transparent, referential composition of the phrase.
Etymology
The compound noun betel leaf names the green leaf from the betel plant that people fold around a small areca nut and sometimes tobacco to 'chew' or to 'offer' to guests. So, the name now means that special leaf used for chewing and in simple ceremonies.