Saman
/səˈmɑːn/noun
A large tropical tree, Samanea saman, also called a rain tree or monkeypod.
Did you know?The saman’s leaflets fold in darkness and during rain, while its broad crown can create a natural canopy nearly 60 metres wide.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Colonial Caribbean
Indigenous Caribbean
saman
“A vernacular name for the tropical tree; the precise source language is uncertain.”
17th–18th Century
Spanish
samán
“A name used for the tropical American tree.”
18th Century
French
saman
“A colonial-era form used for the tree in the Caribbean.”
1820s
Botanical Latin
Samanea saman
“The scientific name assigned to the species.”
19th Century
English
saman
“A tropical American tree, especially the rain tree.”
Modern English
English
saman
“Samanea saman, a spreading tropical tree valued for shade and ornamental planting.”