anilao

noun

ani·​lao

variants or anilau

äˈnēˌlau̇

or anilo

-(ˌ)lō

plural -s

1

: a shrub (Columbia serratifolia) of the family Tiliaceae yielding a strong bast fiber that is found chiefly in the Philippines

2

: any of several shrubs or trees of the genus Grewia yielding a cordage fiber

Word History

Etymology

Tagalog

First Known Use

circa 1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!