HENNA

I. noun Etymology: Arabic ḥinnā' Date: 1600 a reddish-brown dye obtained from leaves of the ~ plant and used especially on hair, an Old World tropical shrub or small tree ( Lawsonia inermis ) of the loosestrife family with small opposite leaves and panicles of fragrant usually white flowers, II. transitive verb Date: 1919 to dye (as hair) with ~