abaca Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a kind of hemp obtained from the abaca plant in the Philippines
    Manila hemp; Manilla hemp.
  2. noun Philippine banana tree having leafstalks that yield Manila hemp used for rope and paper etc
    Manila hemp; Musa textilis.

WordNet

Ab"a*ca noun
Etymology
The native name.
Definitions
  1. The Manila-hemp plant (Musa textilis); also, its fiber. See Manila hemp under Manila.

Webster 1913