Main Entry:

bal·sa

Pronunciation:

\ˈbȯl-sə\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Spanish

Date:

circa 1600

1: a small raft or boat ; specifically : one made of tightly bundled reeds and used on Lake Titicaca2: a tropical American tree (Ochroma pyramidale syn. O. lagopus) of the silk-cotton family with extremely light strong wood used especially for floats ; also : its wood