Manila Envelopes Are Named After a Philippine Fibre
Manila is the capital of the Philippines, and the name of a tough paper. The connection is a banana plant.
Manila is the capital of the Philippines, and the name given to a strong buff-coloured paper. The link is a plant: Manila hemp, or abaca, is a banana relative whose fibre is exceptionally strong and water-resistant. It was exported through Manila for rope and paper, and the envelope kept the port's name long after the fibre stopped being used.
- A strong buff paper. *A manila envelope.*
- The Philippine capital. *Flights to Manila.*
- Manila hemp — abaca fibre. *Manila rope.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | manila | Buff manila. |
| Variant | manilla | The same paper. |
| Compound | manila envelope | A manila envelope. |
| Related | abaca | Abaca fibre. |
| Related | hemp | True hemp. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Put it in a manila envelope.Stationery.
- Manila hemp is not hemp.It is a banana relative.
- Abaca rope resists seawater.Which made it valuable to shipping.
Fibres and their sources
- Abaca — a banana relative, called Manila hemp
- True hemp — from Cannabis sativa
- Sisal — from an agave, used for twine
- Jute — used for sacking and hessian
- Coir — from coconut husks
From Manila, the Philippine capital, through which abaca fibre was exported. The city's name comes from a Tagalog phrase about a local plant.
Is Manila hemp really hemp?
No. It is abaca, a species of banana. The name reflects its use as a rope fibre rather than its botany.
Manila or manilla?
Both spellings appear for the paper. Manila matches the city and is the more common form.