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sisal

American  
[sahy-suhl, sis-uhl] / ˈsaɪ səl, ˈsɪs əl /

noun

  1. Also called sisal hemp. a fiber yielded by an agave, Agave sisalana, of Yucatán, used for making rope, rugs, etc.

  2. the plant itself.


sisal British  
/ ˈsaɪsəl /

noun

  1. a Mexican agave plant, Agave sisalana, cultivated for its large fleshy leaves, which yield a stiff fibre used for making rope

  2. the fibre of this plant

  3. any of the fibres of certain similar or related plants

"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 sisal

1835–45; short for Sisal grass or hemp, named after Sisal, port in Yucatán


Vocabulary lists containing sisal

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.

See Examples For:

The sisal plant grows naturally in the east African country and is the best material for bristle boards, lowering operating costs.

From BBC ● May 30, 2025

For indoor rugs, rather than moving all the furniture, you can pop a fuzzy rug over your cotton or sisal rug until the robins start singing.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 1, 2023

"For instance, pairing a plush sheepskin accent rug on top of a woven sisal rug is a great way to contrast the two materials in a soft yet effective way."

From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2022

Dozens of the sisal haciendas outside Mérida have been renovated as resorts.

From New York Times ● Feb. 25, 2019

She then choked the pants at the waist with a piece of sisal rope to hold them up.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

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