Caraguata

/ˌkærəɡwɑːˈtɑː/ noun

Definition

A tropical plant of the bromeliad family that produces fibers used to make rope, cloth, and other textiles.

Etymology

From Tupi (a South American indigenous language) via Portuguese, caraguatá refers to a plant native to South America. The word traveled into English through colonial trade routes.

Kelly Says

The caraguata plant is so fibrous that indigenous peoples made incredible textiles from it centuries before synthetic fabrics existed—nature's perfect rope maker.

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