piassava noun. [pi:ǝ'sɑ:vǝ] Also piassaba [-bǝ]. M19.
[Portuguese from Tupi piaçába.]
A stout fibre from the leaf-stalks of various tropical palm trees, esp. the S. American Attalea funifera and Leopoldinia piassaba and the African Raphia hookeri, used for brooms, brushes, etc. (also piassava fibre). Also, a palm producing this fibre.

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