Main Entry: ab·a·ca

Pronunciation: \ˌa-bə-ˈkä, ˈa-bə-ˌ\

Function: noun

Etymology: Spanish abacá, from Tagalog abaká

Date: circa 1818

1 : a strong fiber obtained from the leafstalk of a banana (Musa textilis) native to the Philippines —called also Manila hemp
2 : the plant that yields abaca