balsawood
|bal-sa-wood|
/ˈbɔːlsəˌwʊd/
very light, buoyant wood
Etymology
'balsawood' originates from English, specifically the compound 'balsa' + 'wood', where 'balsa' ultimately comes from Spanish 'balsa' meaning 'raft' and 'wood' comes from Old English 'wudu' meaning 'tree, wood'.
'balsa' was borrowed into English from Spanish 'balsa' (meaning 'raft') in reference to the lightweight, buoyant timber; English formed the compound 'balsa wood', which later also appears as the single word 'balsawood'.
Initially, the Spanish 'balsa' meant 'raft', but the term came to be applied to the balsa tree and its timber because of the wood's buoyancy; over time the compound 'balsa wood'/'balsawood' came to mean 'the very light wood of the balsa tree'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a very light, soft wood from the balsa tree (Ochroma pyramidale), commonly used for model-making, crafts, insulation, and as a core material because of its low density and ease of cutting.
Model airplanes are often made from balsawood because it is lightweight and easy to cut.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/08 09:28