What does «tagua» mean in Spanish?
- Seed of the palm Phytelephas sp, which grows in the Pacific rainforest area of Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Also known as ivory nut, vegetable ivory or vegetable kernel. It is extremely hard. This seed is versatile for carving, polishing and dyeing. The Emberá and Wounaan Indians used to make beautiful handicrafts with this seed. Nowadays, necklaces, pendants, bracelets, brooches, earrings, key rings, buttons, etc. are available.
Examples of use in Spanish: "tagua se convirtió en valioso producto de exportación".
- Name for several species of fulica, a wading bird that lives in lagoons. Also called gallaretas. The red-crowned coot is distributed in central and southern Chile and southern Argentina. Scientific names: Fulica armillata (common tagua), Fulica leucoptera (small tagua), Fulica rufifrons (red-fronted tagua).
♦ Used in: Chile - Drunk, drunk.
♦ Used in: Chile - (estoy como tagua) To be drunk.
♦ Used in: Chile