bamboo

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: bam=boo

CIDE DICTIONARY

bamboo, n. [Malay bambu, mambu.].

 A plant of the family of grasses, and genus Bambusa, growing in tropical countries.  [1913 Webster]
" The most useful species is Bambusa arundinacea, which has a woody, hollow, round, straight, jointed stem, and grows to the height of forty feet and upward. The flowers grow in large panicles, from the joints of the stalk, placed three in a parcel, close to their receptacles. Old stalks grow to five or six inches in diameter, and are so hard and durable as to be used for building, and for all sorts of furniture, for water pipes, and for poles to support palanquins. The smaller stalks are used for walking sticks, flutes, etc."  [1913 Webster]

bamboo, v. t. 

 To flog with the bamboo.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

bamboo, n.
1 a mainly tropical giant woody grass of the subfamily Bambusidae.
2 its hollow jointed stem, used as a stick or to make furniture etc.

Etymology

Du. bamboes f. Port. mambu f. Malay