Samán
/saˈman/noun
A large tropical tree, usually identified botanically as Albizia saman, also called the rain tree.
Did you know?The samán became a symbol of Venezuelan national identity, especially through the famous Samán del Guère, a historic rain tree associated with Simón Bolívar.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Columbian period
Indigenous Caribbean
saman
“An Indigenous name for the tropical tree; the precise source language is uncertain.”
16th Century
Spanish
samán
“A name recorded by Spanish speakers for the large tropical tree encountered in the Caribbean and northern South America.”
18th Century
Botanical Latin
Mimosa saman
“An early scientific classification of the species under the genus Mimosa.”
19th Century
Botanical Latin
Albizia saman
“The species name used in modern botanical classification, placing the tree in the genus Albizia.”
Modern English
English
saman
“An English loanword for the tropical rain tree, also known as Albizia saman.”
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