kopi

K5O1P3I1
UK/ˈkəʊpi/Malaysia, Singapore[ˈk˭op˭i]Malaysia, Singapore[ˈk˭ɔ-]Malaysia, Singapore[ˈk˭o˧.p˭i˦]

noun

A variety of gypsum found in southern Australia, sometimes containing opal, and traditionally used by Indigenous Australian in powdered form as body ornamentation for mourning ceremonies.

OriginBaagandji kopi →
UncommonFirst used 19th c.Scrabble 10
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Meanings

kopi1

nounkopi (uncountable)
  1. AustraliauncountableA variety of gypsum found in southern Australia, sometimes containing opal, and traditionally used by Indigenous Australian in powdered form as body ornamentation for mourning ceremonies.First known use 19th c.

    They were made by taking a cast of woven cord, and covered in kopi, a white gypsum clay.

    2018, Bruce Pascoe, Dark Emu, Scribe, published 2020, page 152
    1 more example

    "In these parts you find kopi, gypsum I think you call it, and you see it in layers exposed on the sides of certain hills."

    2010, Monte Dwyer, Red in the Centre: Through a Crooked Lens, Monyer Pty Ltd, page 104

kopi2

nounkopi (uncountable)
  1. IndonesiaMalaysiaSingaporeuncountableCoffee as it is traditionally prepared and served in Maritime Southeast Asia.

Origin

kopi · noun

  1. Baagandjikopi
  2. Englishkopi

From Baagandji kopi, gabi.

More words from Baagandji

Full word history & related roots →

kopi · noun

  1. Dutchkoffie
  2. Malaykopi“coffee”
  3. Englishkopi

From Malay kopi (“coffee”), from Dutch koffie with further influence of English coffee. Compare Hokkien 咖啡 (ko-pi / ko-phi), Teochew 咖啡 (go¹ bi⁵ / gu¹ bi⁵), Cantonese 咖啡 (go³ bi¹).

More words from Malay, Dutch

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Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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