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old-man's-beard

American  
[ohld-manz-beerd] / ˈoʊldˌmænzˈbɪərd /

noun

  1. fringe tree.

  2. beard moss.

  3. traveler's-joy.


old man's beard British  

noun

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

"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

Etymology

Origin of old-man's-beard

First recorded in 1735–45

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

With this he disappeared In hazel and thorn tangled with old-man's-beard.

From Poems by Thomas, Edward

Then upon thyme and tansy think, On fields of sainfoin, ruddy pink, On dells deep down and rocks upreared, On lad's-love and on old-man's-beard, On spearmint and on silver sages, On colewort and on saxifrages!

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 146, February 4, 1914 by Seaman, Owen, Sir

It was a beautiful unkept hedge with scarlet and purple fruit among the many-coloured fading leaves and silver-grey down of old-man's-beard.

From Afoot in England by Hudson, W. H. (William Henry)

Yes, Spanish moss, as we call it here, or old-man’s-beard moss, as they name it in other parts.

From The Boy Hunters by Unknown