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Glite Dictionary
simal

simal

9.9
A tall East Indian tree whose soft fibers fill mattresses and pillows
  • noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : simal
  • The villagers stuffed their mattresses with fibers from the simal tree.

Examples

  • Unlike kapok, simal is considered less resilient for pillow filling.

  • I found some simal fibers in the market.

  • The tall simal stood out among the palm trees of the tropical forest.

  • The simal tree grows tall and majestic.

  • The villagers stuffed their mattresses with fibers from the simal tree.

  • Unlike kapok, simal is considered less resilient for pillow filling.

  • I found some simal fibers in the market.

Synonyms

Bombax ceiba
vssimal
  • Specialized
9.9

An Asian tree from India that makes silk cotton fibers used to stuff pillows and mattresses

highlights use of its fibers as stuffing and their inferiority to kapok
red silk-cotton tree
vssimal
  • Indian
9.9

A tropical tree with large flowers that makes cotton-like seed fibers used for stuffing

emphasizes stuffing use and notes fiber quality is lower than kapok

Surface Forms

simal singular
simals plural

Etymology

The word simal comes from Indian languages such as Hindi simal and Bengali shimul, where it names the silk-cotton tree. A helpful way to remember it is to think of the tree's soft seed fibers like 'silk' used to stuff mattresses and pillows, so simal refers both to the tree and to the stuffing made from it.