A type of lightweight, durable wood from tropical trees, used in shipbuilding and furniture; also a traditional boat used in India.
From Sanskrit 'puna' or Malayalam origin, referring to trees native to South and Southeast Asia. The word entered English through maritime trade routes in the 17th century.
Poon wood was so valued for ships that British naval vessels often traveled to Asia specifically to harvest it—it's incredibly resistant to water damage, which made it perfect for wooden ship hulls before the age of steel!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.