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Added 9 October 2026

marijuana

/ˌmɛɹɪˈwɑ.nə/ noun

In Latin: cannabis First recorded: 1874 Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about marijuana at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The inflorescence of the Cannabis sativa plant, smoked or ingested for euphoric effect.
After smoking a bowl of that fine marijuana, they ate some brownies.
The hemp plant itself, Cannabis sativa.

Origin

Borrowed from Mexican Spanish marihuana, from mariguana. First attested in 1874 in the publications of Hubert Howe Bancroft. Altered by influence of a folk etymology involving the proper name María Juana (“Mary Jane”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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