pal·met·to (pāl-mět'ō) n.
pl.pal·met·tos or pal·met·toes
Any of several small, mostly tropical palms having fan-shaped leaves, especially one of the genus Sabal, such as S. palmetto of the southeast United States. Also called sabal.
Leaf strips of any of these plants, used in weaving.
[Spanish palmito, diminutive of palma, palm tree, from Latin; see palm2.]