any cycadaceous plant of the genus Zamia, of tropical and subtropical America, having a short thick trunk, palmlike leaves, and short stout cones
Word origin
C19: from New Latin, from Latin zamiae, erroneous reading of phrase nucēs azāniae pine cones, probably from Greek azainein to dry up
zamia in American English
(ˈzeɪmiə)
noun
any of a genus (Zamia) of cycads growing in Florida and tropical regions, having a short, thick trunk, pinnately compound, palmlike leaves, and short, thick cones
Word origin
ModL < L zamiae (pl.), false reading in Pliny the Elder for (nuces) azaniae, pine (nuts)