See Also: Surgical(medicine)
surgical(dictionary)
A and B Surgical Inc(health)
surgical(dictionary)
surgical prosthesis(medicine)
surgical equipment(medicine)
surgical emphysema(medicine)
surgical diathermy(medicine)
surgical debridement(medicine)
surgical anatomy(medicine)

betel (sh) and surgical (iou)


betel (sh)




Either of two different plants that are widely used in combination for chewing purposes in southern Asia and the East Indies.

The betel nut is the seed of the areca, or betel, palm (Areca catechu), family Palmae; the betel leaf is from the betel pepper, or pan plant (Piper betle), family Piperaceae. For chewing, a small piece of the areca palm's fruit is wrapped in a leaf of the betel pepper, along with a pellet of lime to cause salivation and release the stimulating alkaloids. Chewing results in a heavy flow of brick-red saliva, which may temporarily dye the mouth, lips, and gums orange-brown. Betel nuts yield an alkaloid that veterinarians use as a worming agent.


The betel nut, seed of the areca palm (Areca catechu)

Wayne Lukas-Group IV
The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers


surgical (iou)



surgical adjective & noun. L18.
[French cirurgical from Old French cirurgien: see SURGEON, -ICAL. Alt. after SURGEON, SURGERY.]
A. adjective.
a. Pertaining to, dealing with, or used in surgery. L18.
surgical spirit methylated spirit used in surgery for cleansing etc.
T. McGuane He was wearing his surgical gown and hat.
b. Medicine. Arising as a complication of surgical treatment. M19.
c. Of a garment: worn to correct or relieve an illness or deformity. L19.
British Medical Journal Surgical shoes are commonly prescribed by orthopaedic surgeons.
Designating swift and precise military attack, esp. from the air. Orig. US. M20.
Annual Register Israel used a surgical air strike to obliterate the PLO headquarters.
b. noun. Orig., a surgical operation; now, a surgical case or ward. colloq. E19.
surgically adverb by the application of, or in relation to, surgical treatment E19.