anacahuita

noun

an·​a·​ca·​hui·​ta

ˌanəkəˈwētə

variants or anacahuite

",

-ēˌtā

plural -s

: a small aromatic tree (Cordia boissieri) found in Texas and Mexico, having yellowish white flowers, and used medicinally

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Mexican Spanish anacahuita, anacahuite, nacahuita, nacahuite, probably borrowed from Nahuatl āmacuahuitl "tree (as Ficus insipida and related species) from which bark for paper is obtained," from āmatl "paper" + cuahuitl "tree"

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

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