Bamboo
/bæmˈbuː/noun
A tall, fast-growing woody grass with hollow stems, widely used for building, food, and ornament.
Did you know?The English word came into European languages through Malay and probably imitated the plant’s own hollow-stemmed sound, making it one of those rare names that feels almost like a whispered echo.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
Malay
bambu
“The bamboo plant”
16th Century
Portuguese
bambu
“Bamboo, borrowed from Malay through maritime trade”
17th Century
Dutch
bamboes
“Bamboo, borrowed from Portuguese or Malay forms”
18th Century
English
bamboo
“The tall woody grass with jointed hollow stems”