First Known Use: 1866
Dictionary
carnauba
noun car·nau·ba \kär-ˈnȯ-bə, -ˈnau̇-; ˌkär-nə-ˈü-bə\
Definition of CARNAUBA
: a fan-leaved palm (Copernicia prunifera syn. C. cerifera) of Brazil that has an edible root and yields a useful leaf fiber and carnauba wax
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Origin of CARNAUBA
Brazilian Portuguese carnaúba, from Tupi karanaʔíβa, from karaná, a palm (perhaps Mauritia carana or M. flexuosa) + βa stem, plant, tree
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