Kapok
/ˈkɑː.pɒk/noun
A fiber obtained from the seed pods of the kapok tree, used for insulation or stuffing.
Did you know?Kapok fiber is often referred to as 'silk cotton' and was historically used in life jackets due to its buoyancy and resilience, linking it to survival and rebirth.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Austronesian
PAN
*kapa
“a type of tree or fiber used for weaving.”
Malay
Malay
kapuk
“cotton or fiber from the kapok tree.”
17th Century
Spanish
capoc
“fibers of the kapok tree.”
19th Century
English
kapok
“the fiber used for stuffing and insulation.”