/kow"ij/ , n.
1. a tropical vine, Mucuna pruriens, of the legume family, bearing reddish or blackish pods.
2. the pod itself, covered with bristlelike hairs that are irritating to the skin and cause intense itching.
3. the hairs of the cowage mixed with a liquid vehicle and used to expel intestinal worms.
Also, cowhage, cowitch .
[ 1630-40; kãuch, kevãc (cf. kavac any husk or pod), reshaped in E by folk etym. ]