n. A South African shrub (Aspalathus linearis) in the pea family, having green needlelike leaves that turn red when oxidized and dried and are widely used to make tea. [Afrikaans : rooi, red (from Middle Dutch, root; see reudh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots) + bos, shrub, forest (from Middle Dutch bosch, woods, forest; akin to English bush).] |
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