What does corozo mean?
Corozo is the name given both to certain tropical American palm trees and, more commonly, to the hard, ivory-white nuts they produce. When dried, these nuts become dense and polishable, closely resembling animal ivory, which earned them the alternative names "vegetable ivory" and "tagua." Since the nineteenth century they have been prized as an ethical substitute for elephant ivory, most famously in the manufacture of high-quality shirt and coat buttons, though they are also carved into dice, chess pieces, and ornaments. The word derives from Spanish, which borrowed it from indigenous languages of the Caribbean and South America. In modern usage corozo appears chiefly in trade, fashion, and botanical contexts rather than casual conversation, and it carries connotations of craftsmanship, sustainability, and natural materials.
nounA South American palm tree of the genus Acrocomia (or related palms), or the hard ivory-like seed it produces; the seed, also known as vegetable ivory or tagua, is used as a substitute for elephant ivory in buttons and small carvings.
- The hard, white endosperm (nut) of certain South American palms, used as a natural substitute for ivory in buttons, dice, and carvings.
- Any of the tropical American palm trees that bear this nut.
"Her vintage coat was fastened with buttons carved from corozo, polished to a warm honey sheen."
"Fine haberdashers still prize corozo buttons for their durability and rich, natural grain."
"Artisans carve dried corozo nuts into delicate figurines that rival true ivory work."
The plural follows standard English -s inflection.
"Craftsmen sorted the corozos by size before carving."
Before plastic took over, your grandmother's best buttons may well have been carved from a rainforest palm nut so like ivory that it was called 'vegetable ivory'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of corozo
The English word corozo was borrowed from Spanish, where it denotes the same palm and its nut. Spanish in turn took the term from an indigenous language of the Caribbean region, reflecting the plant's native range in tropical America. The word entered European use during the colonial era as trade in the palm's ivory-like seeds developed, particularly once those seeds became commercially valuable as button material.
How corozo is actually used
"Corozo" is a specialist term encountered mainly in contexts of textiles, buttons, crafts, and botany. It is neutral in register but uncommon in everyday speech; speakers are more likely to encounter "vegetable ivory" or "tagua" when referring to the material.
Easily confused with corozo
Coir is fibrous material from coconut husks used for rope and matting, whereas corozo refers to a palm tree or its hard, ivory-like nut.