frailejón

noun

frai·​le·​jón

ˌfräēlāˈhōn

plural frailejones

-ōˌnās

1

: any of several xerophytic plants of the genus Espeletia (family Compositae) of the higher Andes (especially E. grandiflora)

2

: the tomentum of the stem and leaves of frailejón resembling wool

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, augmentative of Spanish fraile friar, from Old Spanish fraire, from Old Provençal, brother, friar, from Latin fratr-, frater brother

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