old-man's-beard

[ohld-manz-beerd]

noun

1. fringe tree.

2. beard moss.

3. traveler's-joy.

old man's beard

noun

1. any of various plants having a white feathery appearance, esp traveller's joy and Spanish moss

Word History and Origins

Origin of old-man's-beard¹

First recorded in 1735–45

Example Sentences

Fortunato Gatto came across a gnarled birch tree draped with pale ‘old man’s beard’ lichens in Glen Affric in the Scottish highlands.

From BBC

A soft, golden light filtered through twisted trees draped with a straggly yellow-green lichen called “old man’s beard,” giving the glens a magical air.

From Washington Post

These epiphytes ranged in texture and color, from the orange moss known as Antitrichia curtipendula to the light-green lichens belonging to the genus Usnea, known more commonly as old man’s beard and witches’ hair, respectively.

From Washington Post

It was one of those golden autumn afternoons and there were blackberries and splashes of old man's beard in the hedges, and the hawthorn berries were ripening scarlet for the birds when the cold winter came along.

From Literature

As we strolled through the densely textured vegetation, the women pointed out medicinal plants they use: the shiny leaves of the cocu help with gallbladder problems, a tea made from molle leaves soothes bronchitis and the wispy “old man’s beard” is a moss that tackles everyday foot odours.

From The Guardian