tucum

noun

tu·​cum

tüˈküm

variants or less commonly tucuma

-mə

plural -s

1

or less commonly tucum palm

a

: any of several chiefly Brazilian palms of the genus Astrocaryum (especially A. tucuma) with leaf bases that yield a coarse fiber used especially for cordage and hats and with seeds that yield an edible oil

b

: a low spiny Brazilian palm (Bactris setosa) with leaves that yield a long strong fiber held to resemble wool and used locally for bags or other containers, fishing nets, and shoemakers' twines

2

: the fiber of a tucum

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese tucumā, from Tupi tucumá

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