catalpa
[ kuh-tal-puh ]
/ kəˈtæl pə /
noun
any of several trees constituting the genus Catalpa, of the bignonia family, especially C. speciosa, of the central U.S., or C. bignonioides, of the southern U.S., having opposite, sometimes whorled leaves, clusters of white flowers, and long, beanlike seed pods.
Also called
Indian bean.
Origin of catalpa
1720–30,
Americanism; (< New Latin) < Creek
katałpa, equivalent to
ka-, combining form of
iká head +
tałpa wing (apparently so called from the shape of the flower)
Words nearby catalpa
cataloger,
catalogue,
catalogue raisonné,
catalonia,
catalonian,
catalpa,
catalufa,
catalyse,
catalysis,
catalyst,
catalytic
Example sentences from the Web for catalpa
British Dictionary definitions for catalpa
catalpa
/ (kəˈtælpə) /
noun
any bignoniaceous tree of the genus Catalpa of North America and Asia, having large leaves, bell-shaped whitish flowers, and long slender pods
Word Origin for catalpa
C18: New Latin, from Carolina Creek
kutuhlpa, literally: winged head, referring to the appearance of the flowers