moxa

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A woolly material obtained from the dried leaves of an Asian species of mugwort, such as Artemisia argyi, as used in moxibustion.
  2. Any other substance used in moxibustion.

Pronunciation

/ˈmɒksə/ /ˈmɑksə/

Word forms

moxa moxas

Etymology

From Japanese 艾 (mogusa, “mugwort”). The u is not strongly pronounced in Japanese, leading to its disappearance and the devoicing of the plosive. First used by Hermann Buschoff, a Dutch minister in Batavia, who wrote the first book about this remedy in 1674.

Derived words

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