Definition of: piassava

(pē′ə·sä′və) noun
1. A coarse, stiff fiber obtained from the leafstalks of two Brazilian palms, Attalea funifera and Leopoldinia piassaba: used for making ropes, brooms, brushes, etc.
2. Either of these palms. Also pi′a·sa′ba (-bə), pi′as·sa′ba, pi′a·sa′va. [<Pg. piassava, piassaba <Tupian piaçába]