ava

[Native language of the Sandwich Islands.] 1. The Sandwich Island name of a lifiaceous plant, a species of Cordyline [CORDYLINE), which furnishes an intoxicating liquor. "... the stream was shaded by the dark green knotted stem of the ara , so famous in former days for its intoxicating effects."-Darwin: Voyage round the World , ch. xviii. 2. The native name given in the Sandwich Islands to an intoxicating liquor distilled from the plant described under No. 1, or to intoxicating liquor in general. "But when it did a general search was made, in which even the houses of the mi ionaries were not exempted, and all the dea (as the natives call all ardent spirits) was poured on the ground."- Darwin : Voyage round the World , ch. xviii. 3. A kind of pepper, Macro piper methysti cum. (Treas. of Bot .)