raffia palm

noun

1. any of various palms of the genus Raphia, as R. farinifera of tropical Africa, having pinnate leaves that yield a strong, flexible fiber.

Word History and Origins

Origin of raffia palm¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

To make ogogoro, the oil palm or raffia palm tree needs to be tapped for its sap which is left to naturally ferment and then distilled.

From Salon

Their report was only off by a hair; the Kongo people made remarkable textiles by beating the fibrous bark of certain trees, or weaving thread from the raffia palm.

From Literature

The chimpanzees also relied on raffia palm trees as a source of sodium, but the clay does not have high sodium levels, Dr. Reynolds said.

From New York Times

This change in diet may be partly due to the widespread destruction of raffia palm trees that the chimps typically relied on for their minerals.

From US News

The chimps made absorbent sponges with chewed leaves and then dipped them into the sap of the raffia palm trees.

From Time