tambookie

noun

tam·​boo·​kie

tamˈbükē,

-bu̇kē

variants or less commonly tambookie thorn

plural -s

1

: a southern African shrub or small tree (Erythrina acanthocarpa) with spiny fruit

2

: the extremely light wood of the tambookie

Word History

Etymology

Afrikaans tamboekie, from Tamboekie Kaffir of the Tembu tribe, probably from Tamboe Tembu + -kie (from Dutch -kje, diminutive suffix)

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