raf•fi•a

(ˈræf i ə)

n. a fiber obtained from the leaves of the raffia palm, used for tying plants and other objects and for making mats, baskets, hats, etc. [1880–85; earlier rofia raffia palm, said to be < Malagasy]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	raphia - leaf fibers of the raffia palm tree; used to make baskets and mats etc.raffiaplant fiber, plant fibre - fiber derived from plants
	2.	Raphia - feather palm of tropical Africa and Madagascar and Central and South America widely grown for commercial purposesgenus Raffia, genus Raphia, Raffialiliopsid genus, monocot genus - genus of flowering plants having a single cotyledon (embryonic leaf) in the seedArecaceae, family Arecaceae, family Palmaceae, family Palmae, palm family, Palmaceae, Palmae - chiefly tropical trees and shrubs and vines usually having a tall columnar trunk bearing a crown of very large leaves; coextensive with the order PalmalesRaffia farinifera, raffia palm, Raffia ruffia - a large feather palm of Africa and Madagascar having very long pinnatisect fronds yielding a strong commercially important fiber from its leafstalks

Raphia

Raphia:

see RafaRafa
or Rafah
, town in the present Gaza Strip on the Egyptian border. The ancient name was Raphia. There in 217 B.C., Ptolemy IV defeated Antiochus III.
..... Click the link for more information. .

raphia:

see raffiaraffia
or raphia
, fiber obtained from the raffia palm of Madagascar, exported for various uses, such as tying up plants that require support, binding together vegetables to be marketed, and weaving baskets, hats, and mats.
..... Click the link for more information. .

Raphia

an ancient city near the modern city of Gaza. In 217 B.C., during the dynastic wars of the Diadochoi, a battle took place near Raphia between the Syrian army of Antiochus III (62,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry, and 102 war elephants) and the Egyptian army of Ptolemy IV (70,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry, and 73 war elephants). Early in the battle, the Syrians overran the left flank of the Egyptian troops, and the Egyptians overran the left flank of the Syrian troops. Later, however, the Egyptian phalanx routed the center of the Syrian army, which fled in disorder. The Syrians lost 10,000 killed and 4,000 captured, and the Egyptians suffered more than 2,000 killed. Egyptian troops occupied a number of cities in Syria and Phoenicia.

Raphia

a genus of plants of the family Palmae. The palms have one or numerous trunks and reach a height of 9–12 m. The pinnate fronds are 15–20 m long. The inflorescences are large (4–5 m across) and ramose, and they bear pistillate and stami-nate flowers. The fruits have a fibrous covering. After fruiting, the plant dies.

There are approximately 30 species of Raphia, distributed in tropical Africa, on Madagascar, on the Mascarene Islands, and in South America. The fronds and their stalks of all species contain a strong fiber (piassava), from which brushes and various wicker items are made. Fiber from the fronds of R. vinifera, R. text His, and R. ruffa is used for making industrial textiles; it is also used as a binding material in horticulture.

raffia

, raphia1. a palm tree, Raphia ruffia, native to Madagascar, that has large plumelike leaves, the stalks of which yield a useful fibre 2. the fibre obtained from this plant, used for tying, weaving, etc. 3. any of several related palms or the fibre obtained from them

raphia

Related to raphia: Raphia Palm

noun

Synonyms for raphia

noun leaf fibers of the raffia palm tree

Synonyms

raffia

Related Words

plant fiber
plant fibre

noun feather palm of tropical Africa and Madagascar and Central and South America widely grown for commercial purposes

Synonyms

genus Raffia
genus Raphia
Raffia

Related Words

liliopsid genus
monocot genus
Arecaceae
family Arecaceae
family Palmaceae
family Palmae
palm family
Palmaceae
Palmae
Raffia farinifera
raffia palm
Raffia ruffia