Bambo
/ˈbæm.boʊ/noun
An obsolete variant spelling of bamboo, referring to a tall, jointed tropical grass with woody stems.
Did you know?“Bambo” is recorded as an English variant of “bamboo,” whose European history passed through Portuguese and likely Malay or Indonesian, though its ultimate origin remains uncertain.
Etymological Timeline
Before the 16th Century
Malay/Indonesian
bambu
“A bamboo plant or stem; the deeper origin of the term is uncertain.”
16th Century
Portuguese
bambu
“Bamboo, encountered through Portuguese exploration and trade in Asia.”
16th–17th Century
English
bamboo
“The tropical, woody grass introduced into English from European usage.”
17th Century
English
bambo
“A variant spelling of bamboo, later becoming obsolete.”
Modern English
English
bambo
“An obsolete or historical form, retained mainly in dictionaries and historical texts.”
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