Kaffir boom
noun
-ˌbōm,
-ˌbüm
variants or kaffir boom
Africa
: coral tree
especially : a coral tree (Erythrina caffra) with scarlet flowers and light soft wood sometimes used for fence posts or shingles
Word History
Etymology
partial translation of Afrikaans kafferboom, from Kaffer Kaffir + boom tree, from Dutch, from Middle Dutch; akin to Old English bēam tree