iroko

/ ɪˈrəʊkəʊ /

noun

1. a tropical African hardwood tree of the genus Chlorophora
2. the hard reddish-brown wood of this tree

Word History and Origins

Origin of iroko¹

C19: from Yoruba

Example Sentences

Believers say the spirits usually live in baobab or Iroko trees, considered the most sacred, and are places where priests perform the rituals, such as drinking blessed water or gin, eating cola nuts or sitting in a sacred spot, such as inside a tree.

From Washington Times

Believers say the spirits usually live in baobab or Iroko trees, considered the most sacred, and are places where priests perform the rituals, such as drinking blessed water or gin, eating cola nuts or sitting in a sacred spot, such as inside a tree.

From Seattle Times

Known as Abiku and Ogbanje respectively by the two ethnic groups, these children were believed, by the Yoruba, to belong to a coven of demons living in large iroko and baobab trees.

From BBC

They were carved from aged iroko wood, as unforgiving as steel.

From Literature

I made each of the clients wear a colorful daishiki and I had them gather around in a circle and then encouraged them to empty their minds and get rid of their old personalities and visualize themselves sitting under an iroko tree in an African village square.

From Salon