any tropical American tree of the genus Simarouba, esp S. amara, having divided leaves and fleshy fruits: family Simaroubaceae
2.
the medicinal bark of any of these trees
Word origin
C18: from New Latin, from Carib simaruba
simarouba in American English
(ˌsɪməˈruːbə)
noun
1.
any tropical American tree belonging to the genus Simarouba, of the quassia family, having pinnate leaves, a fleshy fruit, and a root whose bark contains an appetite stimulant
2.
the bark of this family of trees and shrubs
Also: simaruba
Word origin
[1745–55; ‹ F ‹ Carib simaruba]This word is first recorded in the period 1745–55. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: coda, debut, development, pompadour, symmetrical