# ayahuasca

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌaɪəˈwɑːskə/ · frequency rank #54,027

## Definitions
1. A giant vine native to South America (especially Banisteriopsis caapi), noted for its psychotropic properties.
2. Any of various psychoactive infusions or decoctions prepared from this vine.

## Etymology
From Spanish ayahuasca, from Quechua ayawaska, from aya (“spirit, ancestor”) + waska (“vine”). First use appears c. 1870. See cite below.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ayahuasca