Acacia
/əˈkeɪ.ʃə/noun
A genus of shrubs and trees, or a plant resembling one of them.
Did you know?The word was used by ancient Greek writers for a thorny tree, and its deep history helped make acacia a plant name loaded with ritual, purity, and endurance in later traditions.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ak-
“to be sharp, pointed”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀκακία (akakía)
“a thorny tree or shrub”
Latin
Latin
acacia
“a thorny tree, especially a species used in medicine and dyeing”
Late Latin / Old French
Latin / Old French
acacie
“the plant name passed into Romance usage”
Modern English
English
acacia
“a genus of shrubs and trees, especially thorny species and ornamental varieties”