sago palm

American  

noun

1. any of several tropical Old World palms, as of the genera Metroxylon and Caryota, that yield sago.

2. a cycad, Cycas revoluta, of Japan, having a crown of glossy, fernlike leaves, grown as an ornamental.

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sago palm British  

noun

1. any of various tropical Asian palm trees, esp any of the genera Metroxylon, Arenga, and Caryota, the trunks of which yield sago

2. any of several palmlike cycads that yield sago, esp Cycas revoluta

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Etymology

Origin of sago palm

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

The surviving islanders were forced to cut down sago palm trees, a valuable source of food, and plant spice trees in their place.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

Common plants to avoid include the sago palm, because it’s toxic to dogs.

From Washington Post • May 4, 2022

Perhaps the petrified sago palm has been repurposed into mulch.

From Washington Times • Mar. 22, 2021

They live off a starchy staple crop called sago palm and fishing.

From BBC • Aug. 25, 2018

The bands’ food staple is the sago palm tree, whose core yields a starchy pith when the palm reaches maturity.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond