Forms: 6 bambus, 6–7 bambo (? -os), 7 pambou, bambou, bambouse, bambow, 7–8 bamboe, 7–9 bambu, 8– bamboo. [Original source doubtful: now in Malay (Central Sumatra), Sundanese, and Javanese (W. and Central Java) bambu; but some consider it an introduced word there, and take the original to be Canarese bănbŭ or banwu. The native word in the Concan, in 16th c., was represented by the Portuguese as mambu, still found after 1600. Cf. Du. bamboes (= -ūs), G. bambus, Fr. bambou, It., Sp. and Pg. bambu, mod.L. bambūsa; the forms bambus, -bous, -bouse, come through Du., which seems to have been the European lang. in which the word first appeared with initial b; the final s in Du., etc., is not explained.]
1. A genus of giant-grasses (genus Bambusa), numerous species of which are common throughout the tropics. Also the stem of any of these used as a stick, or as material.
[1563. Garcia de Orta, Simples e Drogues, 194. Aquellas canas daquella arvore chamam os Indios, onde nasce, mambu. (The canes of that tree the Indians where it grows call mambu.)]
1598. W. Phillips, Linschoten’s Trav. Ind. (1864), 174. A thicke Reed, as big as a mans legge, which is called Bambus.
1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. I. 258. The houses are made of Canes which they call Bambos.
1662. Gerbier, Princ., 3. Bambouses, as they call the Poles to which they tye a Woollen Hammac to lye in.
1671. Phil. Trans., VI. 3010. Very artificial boats … made of large Canes, called Bambu.
1681. R. Knox, Hist. Ceylon, 37. The ends of the Bambou … are largely tipped with silver.
1687. A. Lovell, Thevenot’s Trav., III. I. xxxi. 54. The pambous that serve for palanquins.
1697. Dampier, Voy. (1729), III. I. 324. Bamboes grow here but too plentifully.
1748. Anson, Voy., III. v. 341. Mast, yard, boom and outriggers, are all made of bamboo.
a. 1826. Heber, Even. Walk Bengal. Beneath the bamboo’s arched bough.
1872. Oliver, Elem. Bot., II. 281. The light, hollow, jointed stems of the Bamboo.
[1884. Athenæum, 26 April, 539/1. The palms and bambusas of a sub-tropical garden.]
2. attrib., as bamboo cane, reed; esp. when used as a material, as bamboo-basket, -book, -cane; also parasynthetic deriv., as bamboo-colo(u)red, -walled. Bamboo-coolie, one that carries loads suspended on bamboos.
1685. Lond. Gaz., No. 2099/4. A small Bambow Cane, with a black Head.
1737. G. Smith, Cur. Relat., I. i. 66. Twisted together with Bambo’s Reeds. Ibid., iii. 390. A Bamboe Cane, which was about 18 or 20 Foot long.
1796. Stedman, Surinam, I. ix. Another followed behind with a bamboo-rattan.
1800. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., I. 79. Carriage for the tents [will not be required] excepting a few bamboo coolies.
1858. W. Ellis, Vis. Madagascar, iv. 108. Low cane or bamboo-walled cottages.
1862. Mayhew, Crim. Prisons, 62. The player on the bamboo-flute.
1877. Tiele, Hist. Relig., 36. The Bamboo-books supply many details about him.
