esparto

or espar·to grass

[ ih-spahr-toh ]

/ ɪˈspɑr toʊ /

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noun, plural es·par·tos.

any of several grasses, especially Stipa tenacissima, of southern Europe and northern Africa, used for making paper, cordage, etc.

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Origin of esparto

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

Words nearby esparto

espagnolette, espalier, España, español, Espartero, esparto, espec., especial, especially, esperance, Esperanto

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use esparto in a sentence

Alfa, al′fa, n. an African name for esparto grass—also spelt Halfa.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)|Various
The production of esparto pulp by bacteriological fermentation is an idea of later date.
The Manufacture of Paper|Robert Walter Sindall
The conditions for boiling and bleaching esparto are varied by the paper-maker as circumstances require.
The Manufacture of Paper|Robert Walter Sindall
The value of Esparto for the manufacture of high-class printing and medium quality writing paper is well known.
The Manufacture of Paper|Robert Walter Sindall

There were other articles of plaited esparto grass, such as baskets and sandals.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 5|Various

British Dictionary definitions for esparto

esparto

esparto grass

/ (ɛˈspɑːtəʊ) /

noun plural -tos

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

Word Origin for esparto

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012