Espartillo
/ˌɛspɑːrˈtiːjoʊ/noun
A grass or grasslike plant, especially one related to esparto grass and used traditionally for fiber or forage.
Did you know?Its parent word, esparto, ultimately traces to Greek spárton, a plant whose tough stalks were prized for making cordage and woven materials in the ancient Mediterranean.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
σπάρτον (spárton)
“A fibrous plant used for cordage and woven materials”
Classical Latin
Latin
spartum
“Esparto grass or a similar fiber plant”
Medieval Latin
Latin
espartum
“Esparto, a tough grass used for ropes and mats”
Medieval Spanish
Spanish
esparto
“Esparto grass; fiber obtained from it”
Later Spanish
Spanish
espartillo
“Little esparto; a diminutive or related grass name”
Modern English
English
espartillo
“A borrowed botanical or regional name for an esparto-like grass”