First Known Use: 1810
Dictionary
kava
noun ka·va \ˈkä-və\
Definition of KAVA
1
: an Australasian shrubby pepper (Piper methysticum) from whose crushed root an intoxicating beverage is made; also : the beverage made from kava
2
: the dried rhizome and roots of the kava used especially as a dietary supplement chiefly to relieve stress and anxiety
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Origin of KAVA
Tongan & Marquesan, literally, bitter
Medical Dictionary
kava
noun ka·va \ˈkäv-ə\
Medical Definition of KAVA
1
: an Australasian shrubby pepper (Piper methysticum) from whose crushed root an intoxicating beverage is made; also : the beverage
2
: a preparation consisting of the ground dried rhizome and roots of the kava plant that is used as a dietary supplement chiefly to relieve stress, anxiety, and sleeplessness and in folk medicine especially as a diuretic and urogenital antiseptic and that has been linked to cases of severe liver injury
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