Word Study
Tonka bean
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun Tonka bean has 2 senses
- tonka bean(n = noun.plant) coumara nut - fragrant black nutlike seeds of the tonka bean tree; used in perfumes and medicines and as a substitute for vanilla; Array is a kind of bean
- tonka bean(n = noun.plant) coumarouna odorata, dipteryx odorata, tonka bean tree - tall tropical South American tree having pulpy egg-shaped pods of fragrant black almond-shaped seeds used for flavoring; Array is a member of coumarouna, dipteryx, genus coumarouna, genus dipteryx
is a kind of bean tree
CIDE DICTIONARY
Tonka bean, [Cf. F. onca, tonka.].
The seed of a leguminous tree (Dipteryx odorata ), native of Guiana. It has a peculiarly agreeable smell, and is employed in the scenting of snuff. Called also tonquin bean . [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Tonka bean, n. the black fragrant seed of a South American tree, Dipteryx odorata, used in perfumery etc.
Etymology
tonka, its name in Guyana, + BEAN
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