olona

noun

olo·​na

ˌōləˈnä

plural -s

1

: a Hawaiian shrub (Touchardia latifolia) of the family Urticaceae with erect stems, large thick leaves, and small flowers in globose clusters

2

a

: the strong bark fiber of the olona used for making fishnets and ropes resistant to sea water

b

: a cord made from this fiber

Word History

Etymology

Hawaiian olonā

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!