henequen

or hen·e·quin

[ hen-uh-kin ]

/ ˈhɛn ə kɪn /

noun

the fiber of an agave, Agave fourcroydes, of Yucatán, used for making ropes, coarse fabrics, etc.

Nearby words

hendricks, hendricks, thomas andrews, hendrix, hendrix, jimi, hendry, henequen, hengchow, henge, hengelo, hengist, hengyang

Origin of henequen

1875–80; < American Spanish henequén, earlier geniquén, jeniquén, heniquén, perhaps < an indigenous language of Hispaniola, where the word was allegedly first used

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for henequen

Triumphal arches of flowers and laurels, of henequen, and one built of oranges surmounted by the national flag, spanned the route.
The American Egypt|Channing Arnold
These are the profits which the score or so of Yucatecan henequen growers are said to have divided in the last fifteen years.
The American Egypt|Channing Arnold
A second year is allowed to pass before the henequen is planted.
The American Egypt|Channing Arnold
It is also their duty to rasp a certain amount of henequen fiber from the agave each day.
Reports on the Maya Indians of Yucatan|Santiago Mendez

Henequen fiber is used by the Indians for a great variety of purposes.
The Maya Indians of Southern Yucatan and Northern British Honduras|Thomas William Francis Gann

British Dictionary definitions for henequen

henequen

henequin or heniquen

/ (ˈhɛnɪkɪn) /

noun

an agave plant, Agave fourcroydes, that is native to Yucatán

the fibre of this plant, used in making rope, twine, and coarse fabrics

Word Origin for henequen

C19: from American Spanish henequén, probably of Taino origin

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