bacaba

noun

ba·​ca·​ba

bəˈkäbə

variants or bacaba palm

plural -s

: a palm of the genus Oenocarpus (especially O. bacaba and O. distichus) the drupelike fruits of which yield oil used in soap manufacture

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese bacaba fruit of the bacaba palm, from Tupi

First Known Use

circa 1925, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!