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raffia

[ raf-ee-uh ]
/ ˈræf i ə /

noun

a fiber obtained from the leaves of the raffia palm, used for tying plants and other objects and for making mats, baskets, hats, and the like.

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Also raphia.

Origin of raffia

1880–85; earlier rofia raffia palm, said to be <Malagasy

Words nearby raffia

RAF, raff, raffee, rafferty, Rafferty rules, raffia, raffia palm, raffinate, raffinose, raffish, raffle
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for raffia

British Dictionary definitions for raffia

raffia

raphia

/ (ˈræfɪə) /

noun

Also called: raffia palm a palm tree, Raphia ruffia, native to Madagascar, that has large plumelike leaves, the stalks of which yield a useful fibre
the fibre obtained from this plant, used for tying, weaving, etc
any of several related palms or the fibre obtained from them

Word Origin for raffia

C19: from Malagasy
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012