balsa Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun strong lightweight wood of the balsa tree used especially for floats
    balsa wood.
  2. noun forest tree of lowland Central America having a strong very light wood; used for making floats and rafts and in crafts
    Ochroma lagopus.

WordNet

Bal"sa noun
Etymology
Sp. or Pg. balsa.
Definitions
  1. (Naut.) A raft or float, used principally on the Pacific coast of South America.

Webster 1913