cantala

American  

[kan-tah-luh] / kænˈtɑ lə /

noun

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

2. the plant itself.

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cantala British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of cantala

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