cantala

[ kan-tah-luh ]

noun

1. a cordage fiber obtained from the leaves of a tropical plant, Agave cantala.
2. the plant itself.

cantala

/ kænˈtɑːlə /

noun

1. a tropical American plant, Agave cantala, similar to the century plant: family Agavaceae (agaves)
2. the coarse tough fibre of this plant, used in making twine

Word History and Origins

Origin of cantala¹

1910–15; < New Latin, the species name (originally cantula ), apparently < Sanskrit kaṇṭala a mimosa genus

Word History and Origins

Origin of cantala¹

of unknown origin