an evergreen shrub native to East Africa whose leaves contain stimulant properties and are often chewed.
From Arabic 'qat,' a plant native to Yemen and Ethiopia. The word entered English through Arabic trade routes. Also spelled 'khat' in formal contexts, reflecting the Arabic 'kh' sound.
Kat was used for centuries in Arabian and East African cultures as a mild stimulant, and the plant's original Arabic name came with it into English when trade routes opened—words travel with goods!
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