limba

[ lim-buh ]

noun

1. an African tree, Terminalia superba, having yellowish-brown wood.
2. the wood of this tree.

Word History and Origins

Origin of limba¹

First recorded in 1935–40; of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Andrew Jah began to ask the same question in Mende, but I interrupted him in Krio, saying, “I speak Krio, Mende, Temne, Limba, and Arabic.”

From Literature

“What need does she have of womanly chores? She is only a child herself,” Papa would remind his brother, and then couldn’t resist adding: “Yes, not even four years old, and yet she speaks Mende, Temne, Limba, Krio, and Arabic. She picks up languages from the marketplace and learns quickly. She will surely become a scholar.”

From Literature

Each is a cheeseboard-sized 2-D wall-mounting fashioned from zebrawood, lace wood, bronze wood, mahogany, pine and black limba, with striking bas-relief variations appearing among them.

From Seattle Times

“I’m hooked on Limba, which is from Africa.”

From Washington Times

We educated more than 10,000 people, and explained the message in their languages - Temne, Krio and Limba.

From BBC