sapele

[ suh-pee-lee ]

noun

1. Also called aboudikro. the mahoganylike wood of any of several African trees of the genus Entandrophragma, used for making furniture.
2. a tree, especially Entandrophragma cylindricum, of the mahogany family, yielding this wood.

sapele

/ səˈpiːlɪ /

noun

1. any of several W African meliaceous trees of the genus Entandrophragma, esp E. cylindricum, yielding a hard timber resembling mahogany
2. the timber obtained from such a tree, used to make furniture

Word History and Origins

Origin of sapele¹

First recorded in 1900–05; after Sapele, a port on the Benin River in S Nigeria

Word History and Origins

Origin of sapele¹

C20: West African name

Example Sentences

The floor and wall cladding are made from sapele, a sustainably harvested African wood.

From New York Times

In something that could be taken straight from the script of one of Nigeria's famous Nollywood movies, the people delivering the cash were taken on a winding route from Lagos to Sapele, hundreds of kilometres away in the Niger Delta, where they were ordered to drop the money along the road, he said.

From BBC

Wag & Wood Cheese Slicer: This handsome solid-wood cheese board, in walnut, sapele or maple, is handcrafted in Carnation, with a built-in wire slicer and beeswax finish that makes it part tool, part centerpiece.

From Seattle Times

Christopher Alan Johnson, 24, and Frank Chineji Sapele, 25, were shot to death.

From Washington Times

Prince William County Police said Christopher Alan Johnson, 24, and Frank Chineji Sapele, 25, were shot to death at a large house party in Woodbridge.

From Washington Times