Iroko

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A large tropical hardwood tree found in West Africa, known for its durability and resistance to decay
2. A valuable timber species often used in construction and furniture making due to its appealing color and grain
3. An important resource in the woodworking industry, prized for producing quality materials used in boat building and flooring

Etymology: The iroko is a large West African tree, and its name comes from Yoruba, the language of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria and neighbouring Benin and Togo, where the tree is known as "ìrókò". English took the word directly from that language, so the name reached the timber trade with the wood itself rather than passing through European languages first. Many people in the trade have long used it as a substitute for teak, which it resembles in colour and strength, and that is why the wood appears so often in flooring, boatbuilding and furniture.

Synonyms: hardwood, timber