awa

A1W4A1

noun

Kava, specifically Piper methysticum.

OriginHawaiian ʻawa ← Proto-Polynesian *kawa ← Proto-Oceanic *kawaʀ →
Less commonScrabble 6
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Meanings

awa1

nounawa (uncountable)
  1. uncountableKava, specifically Piper methysticum.

    The manner of preparing awa is peculiarly disgusting. The root is chewed by women, and the spit out well-chewed mouthfuls into a calabash.

    1874, Charles Nordhoff, Northern California, Oregon, and the Sandwich Islands, New York: Harper & Brothers, page 92
    2 more examples

    The awa plant is a species of pepper, the piper methysticum of the botanist, and is described as having fleshy stems from two to three feet high.

    1900, Oliver P. Emerson, “The Awa Habit of the Hawaiians”, in All about Hawaii: The Recognized Book of Authentic Information on Hawaii, Combined with Thrum's Hawaiian Annual and Standard Guide, Honolulu: Honolulu Gazette Co., page 131

    The majority say that there is little awa growing wild on Government lands, the bulk of that at present in the market being obtained from cultivated patches.

    1911 October 26, Daniel Logan, editor, The Hawaiian Forester and Agriculturist, volume 8, Honolulu, Hawaii, page 356
  2. uncountableAn intoxicating drink made from the kava plant, typically the root.

    When the prayer had finished, the awa was drunk and the sacred feast then began.

    1910, S. M. Kanakau, “Ancient Hawaiian Religious Beliefs and Ceremonies”, in Thros. G. Thrum, editor, The Hawaiian Annual for 1911, Honolulu: Thros. G. Thrum, page 150
    1 more example

    The Hawaiian gods were supposed to be particularly addicted to the use of awa. Songs were sung in praise of the drink.

    1900, Oliver P. Emerson, “The Awa Habit of the Hawaiians”, in All about Hawaii: The Recognized Book of Authentic Information on Hawaii, Combined with Thrum's Hawaiian Annual and Standard Guide, Honolulu: Honolulu Gazette Co., page 134

Awa2

proper noun
  1. alternativeAlternative form of Ava (“Burmese city”).

Awa3

proper noun
  1. A city in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.
  2. human sciencesa Kainantu language spoken in Papua New Guinea.

Origin

awa · noun

  1. Proto-Oceanic*kawaʀ
  2. Proto-Polynesian*kawa
  3. Hawaiianʻawa
  4. Englishawa

Borrowed from Hawaiian ʻawa.

More words from Hawaiian

Full word history & related roots →

Awa · proper noun

  1. Japanese阿波
  2. EnglishAwa

Borrowed from Japanese 阿波 (Awa).

More words from Japanese

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese 阿波
  • 阿波 (Ābō)city in Japan
French Awa
  • AwaKainantu language
Greek Γλώσσα Άουα
  • Γλώσσα Άουα (Glóssa Áoua)Kainantu language
Japanese 阿波
  • 阿波 (Awa)city in Japan
Kisuaheli Kiawa
  • KiawaKainantu language
Cite this entry
APA

awa. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/awa

MLA

“awa.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/awa. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “awa,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/awa.

Source: awa on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.