Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Fresh betel leaves wrapped around pieces of betel nut, slaked lime, spices, and often tobacco and other ingredients into small packets, traditionally chewed as a mild stimulant and breath freshener in South and Southeast Asia.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Hindi and Urdu pān, leaf, paan, from Middle Indic paṇṇa-, from Sanskrit parṇam, feather, leaf; see per- in Indo-European roots.]

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