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

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near jequirity

Cite this Entry

“Jequirity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jequirity. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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