pulun.
/ˈpuːluː/, U.S. /ˈpuˌlu/ A soft brownish silky fibre obtained from several Hawaiian tree ferns, formerly used to stuff mattresses and cushions. Also (more fully pulu fern, pulu tree): any of these tree ferns, esp. Cibotium glaucum.
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the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > other textiles obtained from plants > [noun]
flax1553
vegetable silka1660
pulu1833
ramie1851
moc-main1857
China-grass1858
tree-wool1870
istle1883
arghan1922
1833 W. F. Tolmie Jrnl. 6 Apr. (1963) 144 Met Madame Boki & retinue, her brows encircled with garlands of pulu.
1860 No. Californian (Arcata) 27 June 1/4 The pulu tree is a species of Fern..growing to a height of from fifteen to twenty-five feet.
1888 W. Hillebrand Flora Hawaiian Islands 546 The base of the leaf stalks is densely covered with a soft and glossy yellowish wool, which is used for stuffing mattresses and pillows, and under the name of pulu forms a regular article of export to California.
1942 Amer. Fern Jrnl. 32 20 The vital organs, throat, tongue, and brain were removed. The cavities were then stuffed with pulu..and sewed up.
1956 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 25 Apr. 54/1 Pulu is a soft woolly fiber plucked from the buds and stalks of the great 20-foot-high tree ferns.
1997 D. J. Mabberley Plant-bk. (ed. 2) 598 Pulu, Cibotium glaucum, Sadleria cyatheoides.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1833