cowhage

noun

cow·​hage ˈkau̇-ij How to pronounce cowhage (audio)
variants or less commonly cowage
: a tropical woody vine (Mucuna pruriens) of the legume family with crooked pods covered with barbed hairs that cause severe itching
also : these hairs formerly used as a vermifuge

Examples of cowhage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One approach that’s been especially fruitful for zeroing in on non-histamine itch is to poke people with tiny hairs (or spicules) from a tropical plant called cowhage, or velvet bean. Katherine Harmon Courage, Discover Magazine, 27 Nov. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Hindi kavā̃c, kevā̃c

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cowhage was in 1640

Dictionary Entries Near cowhage

Cite this Entry

“Cowhage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cowhage. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

cowhage

noun
cow·​hage
variants also cowage
: a tropical leguminous woody vine (Mucuna pruriens) with crooked pods covered with barbed hairs that cause severe itching
also : these hairs formerly used as a vermifuge
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