Manila hemp

American  

noun

1. a fibrous material made from the leafstalks of the abacá, Musa textilis, used for making ropes, fabrics, etc.

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Manila hemp British  

noun

1. a fibre obtained from the plant abaca, used for rope, paper, etc

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Etymology

Origin of Manila hemp

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Manila hemp comes from abaca, a plant much like the one bananas grow on.

From Time Magazine Archive

The stalk contains 10-20% of a fiber that is superior to cotton and linen intensile strength, second only to Manila hemp.

From Time Magazine Archive

Abaca, Manila hemp, or the plant, native to the Philippines, which yield it in quantities.

From The Nuttall Encyclopædia Being a Concise and Comprehensive Dictionary of General Knowledge by Nuttall, P. Austin

Manila hemp is the product of a species of banana.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 3 Atrebates to Bedlis by Various

Their third source of wealth, their main staple, is the world-famous Manila hemp.

From The American Occupation of the Philippines 1898-1912 by Blount, James H.