Ebenaceae
/ˌɛbənˈeɪsiːiː/noun
A family of flowering plants that includes ebony trees and persimmons.
Did you know?The name ultimately traces to an ancient Egyptian term for ebony, a rare imported wood associated with elite objects and royal craftsmanship.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Egyptian
Egyptian
hbny
“Ebony, the dense dark wood obtained through long-distance trade.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἔβενος (ébenos)
“Ebony; a Greek borrowing for the valuable dark wood.”
Classical Latin
Latin
ebenus
“Ebony tree or ebony wood.”
18th Century
Botanical Latin
Ebenus
“A taxonomic genus name based on Latin ebenus and the ebony tradition.”
1789
Botanical Latin
Ebenaceae
“The plant family named by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu, essentially “the ebony family.””
Modern English
English
Ebenaceae
“The recognized family containing ebony trees, persimmons, and related flowering plants.”