Forms: 6 betola, bettel(l, 6–7 bettele, 7 betele, betell, bethel, betre, bettaile, bettle, 7–9 betle, beetle, 8 betelle, 7– betel. [Prob. immed. a. Pg. betel (Varthema 1510), betele, formerly also vitele, betle, betre, ad. Malayâlam veṭṭila (in Tamil veṭṭilei; cf. Skr. vîṭi ‘betel’).]
1. The leaf of a plant, which is wrapped round a few parings of the areca nut (see 2) and a little shell lime, and chewed by the natives of India and neighboring countries as a masticatory. b. Also the shrubby evergreen plant (Piper betle or Chavica betel, N.O. Piperaceæ) which yields this leaf; called also betel-pepper, betel-vine. c. Hence comb. and attrib., as betel-box, -carrier, -server; betel-leaf, etc.
1585. Lloyd, Treas. Health, N iij. Take of Cloves … of bettels, of Galingale.
1598. W. Phillips, Linschoten’s Trav. Ind. (1864), 183. They doe nothing, but sit and chaw Leaues or Herbes, called Bettele with Chaulke and a certaine Fruit called Arrequa.
a. 1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 738. Betell is but champed in the Mouth, with a little Lime.
1697. Dampier, Voy. (1729), II. I. 24. The Betle of Tonquin is said to be the best in India.
1851. R. Burton, Goa, 106. The Gentoo will … chew his betel, and squirt the scarlet juice all over the floor.
1871. Mateer, Travancore, 97. Betel is the dark green heart-shaped leaf of a kind of climbing pepper plant, which grows like hops on poles.
b. 1553. Eden, Treat. New Ind. (Arb.), 21. The herbe called Betola.
1606. E. Scott, E. Indians, N ij. A certaine hearbe called bettaile.
1611. Cotgr., Tambu, the bastard Pepper plant called Bettle or Betre.
1633. H. Cogan, Pinto’s Trav. (1663), 263. Bethel, an herb whose leaves … these Pagans are accustomed to chaw.
1859. R. Burton, Centr. Afr., in Jrnl. R. G. S., XXIX. 47, note. The betel pepper … resembles the piper betel, or betel vine of India.
1866. Treas. Bot., 88. These nuts are rolled up with a little lime in leaves of the betle-pepper.
c. 1681. R. Knox, Hist. Ceylon, 18. The Tree that bears the Betel-leaf … growes like Ivy.
1779. Forrest, Voy. N. Guinea, 14. The beetle leaf, which all East Indians chew.
2. Betel nut: the nut or fruit of the Areca Palm (see ARECA); so misnamed (by Europeans) because it is chewed with the betel leaf. Hence betel-nut-tree, betel-tree, Areca Catechu.
1673. Fryer, New Acct. E. Ind., 40. [Calls areca beetle, and v.v.].
1681. R. Knox, Hist. Ceylon, 97. Betle-nuts, 4000 nine pence Currant price.
1697. Dampier, Voy. (1729), I. 318. The Betel-Tree grows like the Cabbage-Tree … On the top of the Tree among the Branches the Betel-Nut grows.
1772. Ld. Clive, in Weekly Mag., 117/2. The privilege of free trade in beetle-nut being taken away.
1858. Carpenter, Veg. Phys., § 370. Betel-nuts are chewed by the natives of Hindoostan.
