teak
teak
UK[tiːk]US[tiːk]
n
a type of very hard, strong, yellowish-brown wood used especially for making furniture and in shipbuilding.
n
the large tropical tree that produces this wood.
Etymology
the word "teak" entered english in the late 17th century from portuguese "teca." the portuguese term was borrowed from the classical dravidian language of southern india, likely from the malayalam word "tekka" or the tamil "tekku," which refer to the tree and its wood. the name traveled with the valuable timber via portuguese and dutch traders, who were instrumental in the teak trade from southeast asia. the word's journey is a direct reflection of the colonial trade routes that brought this prized material to the western world.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword. it does not contain separable morphemes within modern english spelling.
Examples
the garden table is made of durable teak, which can withstand all weather conditions.
teak forests are an important natural resource in several southeast asian countries.
they chose teak for the deck of the yacht because of its resistance to rot and seawater.