Karri

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A species of eucalyptus tree from Australia renowned for its towering height and high-quality timber used in construction
2. This tall tree native to Australia, known for its strong wood, is often utilized in fine furniture and flooring
3. A very tall eucalyptus tree native to southwestern Australia, prized for its durable timber used in building and carpentry

Etymology: The tree's name comes from the Noongar language, spoken by the Aboriginal peoples of south-western Western Australia, where the karri grows naturally. English speakers adopted the word from the Noongar name for the tree, as settlers in the region did in the colonial period. The tree itself is one of the tallest eucalypts, and it is also a hardwood, so its name became attached to a timber trade as well as a landscape. Unlike many English plant names borrowed from other languages, this one stayed closely tied to the place where it was first used. It still names the species in Western Australia's forests, and it is used in local speech and in the names of towns and features near where the tree grows.