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lehua

American  
[ley-hoo-ah] / leɪˈhu ɑ /

noun

  1. Also called ohia lehua.  a tree, Metrosideros villosa, of the Hawaiian islands, yielding a hard wood.

  2. the bright-red, corymbose flower of this tree.


Etymology

Origin of lehua

Borrowed into English from Hawaiian around 1885–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Ohia lehua trees felled by the lava flows smoldered under the cloudy sky.

From New York Times May 17, 2018

“People today still say, ‘Don’t pick the lehua flower or it’ll rain’ — the heavens will cry because you’ve separated the two lovers,” Mr. Haiku said.

From New York Times Dec. 2, 2011

Our ‘ōhi‘a lehua, with bright red flowers exploding like fireworks amid the dusty green leaves.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

Rising fondly before me,    The recollection of the lehua blossom of Puna,    Brought hither on the tip of the wind,    By the light keen wind of the fiery pit.

From The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai by Martha Warren Beckwith

Screw-palms that clash in Pan'-ewa-- 15Pan'-ewa, whose groves of lehua Are nourished by lava shag, Lehua that bourgeons with flame.

From Unwritten Literature of Hawaii The Sacred Songs of the Hula by Nathaniel Bright Emerson

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