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esparto
(es pär′tō)
noun
either of two kinds of long, coarse grass (Stipa tenacissima or Lygeum spartum) growing in Spain and N Africa, used to make cordage, baskets, shoes, and paper
also esparto grass
Origin: Sp < L spartum < Gr sparton, spartos < IE base *sper-, to turn > spiral
See esparto in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun pl. es·par·tos
A tough, wiry grass (Stipa tenacissima) of northern Africa, yielding a fiber used in making paper and as cordage.
Origin:
Origin: Spanish
Origin: , from Latin spartum
Origin: , from Greek sparton, rope
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