caatinga
noun
caa·tin·ga
käˈtiŋgə,
kə-
variants or less commonly catinga
plural -s
: stunted rather sparse forest that is leafless in the dry season and is widespread in areas of small rainfall in northeastern Brazil
Word History
Etymology
Portuguese, modification of Tupi caá-tinga white forest, from caá forest + tinga white
First Known Use
1821, in the meaning defined above