Definition of raphia:
(n) :
(historical) Synonym of Rafah (spelling used when referring to the site in Antiquity: Ancient and Classical Eras) A town in Levant, frequently disputed between various ancient empires, Egypt (Pharonic, Ptolemaic, etc), Anatolia (Hittite, etc), Mesopotamia (Assyria, Seleucid, etc). The city is now located on the border between Gaza and Egypt, split between the two by an international border.
(n) :
Alternative form of raffia. [A fibrous material used for tying plants, originating from the leaves of raffia palm trees (genus Raphia).]