chunam

noun

chu·​nam

chu̇ˈnam

plural -s

1

India : lime used especially with betel leaf in making pan

2

: a cement or plaster used in India that is usually highly polished and decorated with paintings

Word History

Etymology

Tamil cuṇṇam, from Sanskrit cūrna powder, flour, from carvati he grinds, chews; perhaps akin to Slovak čren jaw, cheekbone, Latvian ceruoklis molar

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