silk-cotton tree

[ silk-kot-n ]

noun

1. any of several spiny trees belonging to the genus Ceiba, of the bombax family, having palmately compound leaves and seeds surrounded by silk cotton, especially C. pentandra, from which kapok is obtained.

silk-cotton tree

noun

1. any of several tropical bombacaceous trees of the genus Ceiba, esp Ceiba pentandra, having seeds covered with silky hairs from which kapok is obtained Also calledkapok tree

Word History and Origins

Origin of silk-cotton tree¹

First recorded in 1705–15

Example Sentences

Beyond the cutting was a long narrow clearing, with a giant silk cotton tree, a province in itself, on the edge of the forest.

From Project Gutenberg

Here the vast ceiba, or silk-cotton-tree, is abundant, from which canoes are frequently hollowed out.

From Project Gutenberg

First and foremost, amongst the votaries of the silk-cotton tree are the rose-coloured starlings (Pastor roseus).

From Project Gutenberg

Round the butt-end is wound a little mass from the silk-cotton tree, which exactly fits into the bore of the blow-pipe.

From Project Gutenberg

But they seem to be exceptionally so when in the silk-cotton tree.

From Project Gutenberg