noun
Any of various large hardwood trees constituting the genus Afzelia (family Fabaceae (Leguminosae)), native to tropical Africa and South-East Asia and valued for their coarse-textured, heavy, and extremely durable timber.
Origin
Late 18th century; earliest use found in James Edward Smith (1759–1828), botanist. From scientific Latin Afzelia, genus name (J. E. Smith 1798, in Trans. Linn. Soc 4 221) from the name of Adam Afzelius, Swedish botanist, who discovered the tree + scientific Latin -a.
Are You Learning English? Here Are Our Top English Tips