East Indian. Also 7–9 suparee, 9 soopari, -ee. [Hindī supārī betel nut.] The betel nut; also applied to the areca palm, the leaves of which are chewed with the betel nut. Also attrib.
1638. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 28. Sneezing-powder is not more frequent with the Irish, than chawing Arec, (by Arab and Indians call’d Tauffet and Suparee) is with these Savages.
1849. Eastwick, Dry Leaves, 214. Is it meant that … one would … find … a high degree of devotion in standing twelve years on one’s head, imbedded in supári leaves?
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Sooparee, Soopari.
1890. D. Davidson, Mem. Long Life, iii. 43. The hamals … regaling themselves … by chewing their paun leaf and suparee.
