sap·u·caia noun orsap·u·ca·jaalsosap·u·ca·ya\ˌsapəˈkīə\ (-s) Etymology: Portuguese sapucaia, from Tupi zabucáya, sapucáya 1.: a tree of the genus Lecythis — see sapucaia nut 2.: the hard heavy durable timber of various sapucaias that is used for ties, in heavy construction, and to a limited extent in cabinetmaking