raffia

• rafia, raphia, rofia, roffia (obsolete)

From Malagasy rafia or rofia.

• IPA^(key): /ˈɹæfiə/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æfiə

raffia (countable and uncountable, plural raffias)

1. A fibrous material used for tying plants, originating from the leaves of raffia palm trees (genus Raphia).
   • 1958, Saul Bellow, Henderson the Rain King:

     He was pressed against the canes and raffia of which this old house was built.

• affair