elephant grass

noun

1. napier grass.
2. a cattail, Typha elephantina, of southern Asia, used for making rope and baskets.

elephant grass

noun

1. any of various stout tropical grasses or grasslike plants, esp Pennisetum purpureum, and Typha elephantina, a type of reed mace

Word History and Origins

Origin of elephant grass¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

The London 2012 torch designers explored a green fuel alternative which combined elephant grass and coconut oil, but it was ultimately abandoned for the final torch due to challenges with lighting and extinguishing the flame, Osgerby says.

From Popular-Science

He delights to sit on a telegraph wire or a stem of elephant grass and there make cheerful melody.

From Project Gutenberg

High elephant grass hid the poor huts even from they who navigate a cautious way along the centre of the narrow stream.

From Project Gutenberg

Beside the river-beds are patches of elephant grass, eight to ten feet high, with feathered plumes six feet higher still.

From Project Gutenberg

On the second day we were passing through tall elephant grass with waving plumes that nodded high over our heads.

From Project Gutenberg

On either side of it was thick scrub jungle and elephant grass eight feet high.

From Project Gutenberg