Etymology

patchouli

P3A1T1C3H4O1U1L1I1

Today it means: Any of several East Indian plants in the genus Pogostemon, especially Pogostemon cablin, which yield a highly fragrant oil. Full definition →

Tamil பச்சுளி (paccuḷi) ← Proto-South Dravidian *elay ← Proto-Dravidian *ay
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The story

  1. Proto-Dravidian*pac-
  2. Tamilபச்சை (paccai)
  3. Proto-Dravidian*el
  4. Proto-Dravidian*ay
  5. Proto-South Dravidian*elay
  6. Tamilஇலை (ilai)
  7. Tamilபச்சிலை (paccilai)
  8. Tamilபச்சுளி (paccuḷi)
  9. English todaypatchouli

Borrowed from Tamil பச்சுளி (paccuḷi).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.