je·quir·i·ty \jə̇ˈkwirəd.ē\noun orjequirity bean (-es) Etymology: Portuguese jequiriti, jequirití, perhaps of Indic origin; akin to Hindi rattī ratti — more at ruttee 1.: the scarlet and black seed of Indian licorice used in India and other tropical regions for beads in rosaries and necklaces and as a standard weight 2.: indian licorice