balsa

(bôl)

noun

  1. any of several tropical American trees (genus Ochroma) of the bombax family that yield an extremely light and buoyant wood used for rafts, model airplanes, etc.
  2. the wood
  3. a raft, esp. one made up of a frame resting on cylindrical floats

Origin: Sp

See balsa in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. a. A tropical American tree (Ochroma pyramidale) having wood that is soft, very light in weight, and that is used as a substitute for cork in insulation, floats, and crafts such as model airplanes.
    b. The wood of this tree. Also called corkwood.
  2. A raft consisting of a frame fastened to buoyant cylinders of wood or metal.

Origin:

Origin: Spanish

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