Definition

1. Noun:
   • A South American plant: Refers to a type of wood sorrel (Oxalis tuberosa) native to the Andes, cultivated primarily for its edible, tuberous roots.
   • A Turkish unit of liquid volume: A traditional unit of capacity used in Turkey, equivalent to approximately 1.3 pints.
   • A Turkish unit of weight: A traditional unit of mass used in Turkey, equivalent to approximately 2.75 pounds.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Plant):

  • The oka is a hardy crop grown in the high altitudes of Peru.
  • They harvested okas to make a traditional stew.

• Noun (Liquid Measure):

  • The recipe calls for one oka of olive oil.
  • He bought two okas of milk from the market.

• Noun (Weight Measure):

  • The merchant sold spices by the oka.
  • The parcel weighed just over half an oka.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Regional Context: The term is almost exclusively used in historical texts or within specific regional contexts (Andean agriculture or traditional Turkish commerce). In modern international contexts, metric or imperial units are preferred.
  • The old ledger recorded transactions in okas and piastres.

Variants and Related Words

• Oca: An alternative spelling for the plant, more commonly used in Spanish.
• Oxalis tuberosa: The botanical name for the oka plant.
• Okka: A common alternate spelling for the Turkish units of weight and volume.

Synonyms

• For the plant: Andean tuber, New Zealand yam (a common name in some regions).
• For the measures: (No direct synonyms; these are specific, culturally-defined units.)

Related Phrases

• By the oka: Sold or measured using this specific unit.
  • In the old bazaar, many goods were still sold by the oka.

Noun

1. South American wood sorrel cultivated for its edible tubers
2. a Turkish liquid unit equal to 1.3 pints
3. a Turkish unit of weight equal to about 2.75 pounds