kava /ˈkɑːvə 
/ (also kava-kava) ▸ noun 1 [mass noun] a Pacific Islands drink made from the crushed roots of a plant of the pepper family, having a mildly intoxicating or sedative effect. 2 the shrub from which the kava root is obtained, grown in the Pacific Islands. Piper methysticum, family Piperaceae.
– ORIGIN late 18th century: from Tongan.
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