esparto

American  

[ih-spahr-toh] / ɪˈspɑr toʊ /

Or esparto grass

noun

plural

espartos

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

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esparto British  

/ ɛˈspɑːtəʊ /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of esparto

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

Example Sentences

On the western border of Egypt sits the five-year-old desert nation of Libya, whose chief export is dried esparto grass, and whose income comes largely from giant British and U.S. air bases.

From Time Magazine Archive

Hidden as he was, he could at last make himself useful, tying strips of esparto grass into bundles that Juliana sold for home weaving.

From Time Magazine Archive

In 1960, Libya's exports consisted of such commodities as esparto grass, olive oil, sponges and camels, and amounted to a paltry $8,500,000.

From Time Magazine Archive

Young and old join hands and dance and stomp on the esparto grass to create a smooth bed for everyone, and we lay our blankets down.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

Beyond them the stable was occupied by a party of swarthy ruffians who had arrived with a cargo of esparto grass.

From Old Junk by Ratcliffe, S. K. (Samuel Kerkham)