esparto

or espar·to grass

[ ih-spahr-toh ]

noun,plural es·par·tos.
  1. any of several grasses, especially Stipa tenacissima, of southern Europe and northern Africa, used for making paper, cordage, etc.

Origin of esparto

1
1585–95; <Spanish <Latin spartum<Greek spárton rope made of spártos kind of rush

Words Nearby esparto

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British Dictionary definitions for esparto

esparto

esparto grass

/ (ɛˈspɑːtəʊ) /


nounplural -tos
  1. any of various grasses, esp Stipa tenacissima of S Europe and N Africa, that yield a fibre used to make ropes, mats, etc

Origin of esparto

1
C18: from Spanish, via Latin from Greek sparton rope made of rushes, from spartos a kind of rush

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