[ ɛ'spα:təʊ , ɪ- ]
(also ~ grass )
■ noun ( plural ~s ) a coarse grass native to Spain and North Africa, used to make ropes, wickerwork, and paper. [ Stipa tenacissima .]
Origin
C19: from Sp., via L. from Gk sparton 'rope'.
[ ɛ'spα:təʊ , ɪ- ]
(also ~ grass )
■ noun ( plural ~s ) a coarse grass native to Spain and North Africa, used to make ropes, wickerwork, and paper. [ Stipa tenacissima .]
Origin
C19: from Sp., via L. from Gk sparton 'rope'.
Concise Oxford English vocab. Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка. 2004