mutin.
/ˈmuːti/, U.S. /ˈmudi/, South African English /ˈmuːti/ South African.† 1. A tree. Obsolete. rare.
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the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by habit > tree or woody plant > [noun]
woodc725
treec825
cedar beamc1000
wood-plant1773
woody plant1830
maiden bark1831
muti1858
1858 A. W. Drayson Sporting Scenes S. Afr. 165 They could see but a ‘muti’ (tree or plant),..neither fit for food or physic.
2.
a. Medicine as traditionally practised among the black peoples of Africa, usually in the form of charms or other objects to which healing or magical powers are ascribed, incorporating herbs and parts of animals and (occasionally) of human bodies. (Rarely used as a count noun.)Muti is used not only to cure illness but also to increase a person's strength or courage, to influence others, to bring good luck, etc. It may be consumed or applied directly, carried about with a person, or left in a particular place to work its purpose.
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the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > [noun]
medicine?c1225
pottingary1474
druggery1507
physicary?1577
stuffa1616
materia medica1663
muti1860
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > [noun] > a medicine or medicament > occult medicine
toadstone1558
erne-stone1587
amulet1718
amuletic1753
muti1860
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > enchantment or casting spells > [noun] > occult medicine
medicinec1395
amulet1718
amuletic1753
muti1860
maleficium1965
1860 A. W. Drayson Sporting Scenes (ed. 2) 275 My Kaffir seemed awed by the lightning and thunder; he ate a little of his ‘muti’ (charmed medicine) that was round his neck.
1875 D. Leslie Among Zulus & Amatongas 60 He disdains to answer in his own language, or even to use the ‘Pigeon English’ word ‘Moote’, but says ‘Medditsin’.
1891 R. Monteiro Delagoa Bay viii. 172 They [sc. the Africans] don't mind saying some are used as ‘mooti’, physic.
1947 Cape Times 10 May 1/1 It was thought that the plant had been killed out by witchdoctors, who consider it an important ingredient of a powerful muti.
1957 J. Packer Nor Moon by Night xviii. 176 He may have made muti of that boy's eyes and tongue.
1971 Sunday Times (Johannesburg) 28 Mar. 20/3 The club which has often used the rolling of the bones to forecast the results of vital matches need some new ‘muti’ to revive their form.
1998 Independent 2 Feb. i. 11/4 Whatever the cause the answer lies across the corridor in a dark and hallowed room where she grinds herbs and plants for muti (medicine).
b. In extended use. Frequently colloquial: medicine of any kind.
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1908 D. Blackburn Leaven 316 White muti no good, baas... You know all about muti, and the doctor told you I should die.
1937 C. Birkby Zulu Journey 43 One of the most pleasant gifts Chaka ever received from Lieutenant Farewell was a cask of medicine. That was strong muti indeed.
1948 O. Walker Kaffirs are Lively 188 Education is the white man's muti—medicine—which makes him powerful.
1973 Cape Times 9 June 7 One man's muti is another man's poison.
1990 Style June 128 Multi-vitamins, cold tabs and tummy muti.
1992 Natal Mercury (Durban) 3 Aug. 6 He is an optometrist by profession and was taken aback when a patient asked for new glasses because ‘the muti in the old ones is finished’.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
muti bag n.
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1911 State Dec. 659 He produced a few pinches of powder from the muti bag suspended round his neck.
muti-man n.
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1968 Post (S. Afr.) 7 Jan. He went to a muti-man who treated him with herbs until he was cured.
1988 Pace June 8B These backyard muti-men use European chemicals in their spuit (syringe).
muti shop n.
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1972 Sunday Times (Johannesburg) 6 Feb. (Mag. section) 12 The muti shop is in colourful Diagonal Street.
1989 Personality (Durban) 29 May 29 And in the Durban area alone there are more than 70 muti shops.
C2.
muti murder n. a ritual killing, or one carried out for the purpose of acquiring body parts for use in muti.
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1971 Sunday Times (Johannesburg) 14 Nov. (Suppl.) 4/1 The three Xabas were indicted for trial at the Rand Supreme Court for the muti murder of the tramp.
1995 Guardian 5 July i. 13/1 ‘Muti’ murders, the killing and mutilation of people for tribal medicine, is..frequently held out as evidence of black savagery.
muti murderer n. a person who carries out a muti murder.
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1978 Pace Dec. 10 A frail, devout church man..was..mistaken for the ‘muti murderer’ and came close to paying for it with his life.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1858