raffia

2 definitions found

raffia - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Raffia \Raf"fi*a\ (r[a^]f"f[i^]*[.a]), n. (Bot.)
     A fibrous material used for tying plants, said to come from
     the leaves of a palm tree of the genus Raphia. --J. Smith
     (Dict. Econ. Plants).
     [1913 Webster]

raffia - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  raffia
      n 1: leaf fibers of the raffia palm tree; used to make baskets
           and mats etc. [syn: raffia, raphia]
      2: fiber of a raffia palm used as light cordage and in making
         hats and baskets
      3: feather palm of tropical Africa and Madagascar and Central
         and South America widely grown for commercial purposes [syn:
         Raffia, genus Raffia, Raphia, genus Raphia]