catalpa

[ kuh-tal-puh ]

noun

1. 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.

catalpa

/ kəˈtælpə /

noun

1. any bignoniaceous tree of the genus Catalpa of North America and Asia, having large leaves, bell-shaped whitish flowers, and long slender pods

Word History and Origins

Origin of catalpa¹

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)

Word History and Origins

Origin of catalpa¹

C18: New Latin, from Carolina Creek kutuhlpa, literally: winged head, referring to the appearance of the flowers

Example Sentences

He made a glider by stretching a catalpa leaf across two sticks, attached it to his back, and climbed to the top of his birch.

From Literature

Sycamore and catalpa are among the few fall-ripening seeds that don’t need stratification.

From Washington Times

Nearby, beneath towering sycamore, catalpa and linden trees, a family sat down to supper at a picnic table.

From Washington Times

The natural world provides a cast of characters: the catalpa tree, which had giant leaves she often wanted to hide her shy face behind.

From New York Times

The catalpa bears the scars of some surgery, and leans a little; my dad leaned a little in later life.

From The Guardian