kapok

American  

[key-pok] / ˈkeɪ pɒk /

noun

1. the silky down that invests the seeds of a silk-cotton tree kapoktree, Ceiba pentandra, of the East Indies, Africa, and tropical America: used for stuffing pillows, life jackets, etc., and for acoustical insulation.

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kapok British  

/ ˈkeɪpɒk /

noun

1. Also called: silk cotton.  a silky fibre obtained from the hairs covering the seeds of a tropical bombacaceous tree, Ceiba pentandra ( kapok tree or silk-cotton tree ): used for stuffing pillows, etc, and for sound insulation

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Etymology

Origin of kapok

1740–50; < Javanese (or Malay of Java and Sumatra) kapuk the name of the tree

Example Sentences

Kapok trees, honeycombs and mangroves are just a few of the naturally occurring features or processes that have informed the designs of buildings from Haiti to South Korea to New York City in recent years.

From New York Times • Jan. 4, 2013

Kapok trees store water internally and shed their leaves under drought conditions to conserve energy.

From New York Times • Jan. 4, 2013

The Condor's entire cabin compartment has been sound-proofed with wood and Kapok fibre so that it comes in direct contact at no point with the surrounding fuselage.

From Time Magazine Archive

He’d thought about asking Matt Kapok if he might want to study together.

From "Small Steps" by Louis Sachar

In economics he gave Matt Kapok the dollar back.

From "Small Steps" by Louis Sachar