jequirity

noun

je·​quir·​i·​ty
jə̇ˈkwirətē
variants or jequirity bean
plural -es
1
: the scarlet and black seed of Indian licorice used in India and other tropical regions for beads in rosaries and necklaces and as a standard weight
2
: indian licorice

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese jequiriti, jequirití, perhaps of Indic origin; akin to Hindi rattī ratti

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of jequirity was in 1882

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near jequirity

Cite this Entry

“Jequirity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jequirity. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!