Wallaba
/wəˈlɑːbə/noun
A tropical South American tree of the genus Eperua, or its durable timber.
Did you know?Wallaba timber has traditionally been valued in Guyana for shingles and heavy construction because of its natural durability, while the tree’s resin-rich wood can burn readily even when damp.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-European contact
Indigenous Guianan language
walaba
“A local name for the wallaba tree or its wood; the precise source language is uncertain in English records.”
18th Century
Colonial English
wallaba
“The name applied by English-speaking naturalists and settlers to Eperua trees of northern South America.”
1775
Latin botanical
Eperua falcata
“A scientific name assigned to the species commonly called wallaba.”
19th Century
English
wallaba
“A tropical tree and a commercially useful South American timber.”
Modern English
English
wallaba
“The tree, its wood, or related Eperua species, especially in forestry and botanical contexts.”