piassava
[ pee-uh-sah-vuh ]
/ ˌpi əˈsɑ və /
noun
Also called monkey grass.
a coarse, woody fiber obtained from either of two palms, Leopoldina piassaba or Attalea funifera, of South America, used in making brooms, mats, etc.
either of these trees.
Also
pi·as·sa·ba
[pee-uh-sah-vuh, -buh] /ˌpi əˈsɑ və, -bə/.
Origin of piassava
1825–35; < Portuguese < Tupi
piaçaba
Words nearby piassava
piano wire,
pianoforte,
pianola,
piarist,
pias.,
piassava,
piaster,
piastre,
piat,
piatigorsk,
piatigorsky
Example sentences from the Web for piassava
Attalea, a genus of American palms, comprising the piassava palm, which produces coquilla-nuts.
The fibre of the piassava (Leopoldinia piassava, or Attalea funifera) is widely used for cordage, brushes and brooms.
Piassava is obtained from the Attalea funifera, also from the Leopoldina piassaba (Brazil).
The most important palm of the country perhaps is the Raphia vinifera, which produces the piassava fibre of commerce.
British Dictionary definitions for piassava
piassava
pias (ˌpiːəˈsɑːbə)
/ (ˌpiːəˈsɑːvə) /
noun
either of two South American palm trees, Attalea funifera or Leopoldinia piassaba
the coarse fibre obtained from either of these trees, used to make brushes and rope
Word Origin for piassava
C19: via Portuguese from Tupi
piaçaba