raffia

noun

1. a fiber obtained from the leaves of the raffia palm, used for tying plants and other objects and for making mats, baskets, hats, and the like.

noun

1. Also called: raffia palm a palm tree, Raphia ruffia, native to Madagascar, that has large plumelike leaves, the stalks of which yield a useful fibre
2. the fibre obtained from this plant, used for tying, weaving, etc
3. any of several related palms or the fibre obtained from them