any of several S African rutaceous shrubs of the genus Barosma, esp B. betulina, whose leaves are used as an antiseptic and diuretic
Word origin
C18: from a South African Bantu name
buchu in American English
(ˈbuːkuː, ˈbjuːkjuː)
noun
any of several southern African citrus shrubs of the genus Agathosma or the genus Diosma, esp. A. betulina, A. crenulata, or D. ericoides, whose leaves yield a dark-colored oil formerly used as a urinary antiseptic and mild diuretic
Word origin
[1725–35; ‹ Afrik (now sp. boegoe) ‹ Khoikhoi, first attested as boggoa (1668)]This word is first recorded in the period 1725–35. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: collapse, hairline, postmortem, snowflake, vampire
Examples of 'buchu' in a sentence
buchu
Likewise, buchu, an indigenous plant species, makes regular appearances on the menu.