Spanish moss

noun

: an epiphytic plant (Tillandsia usneoides) of the pineapple family forming pendent tufts of grayish-green filaments on trees from the southern U.S. to Argentina

Illustration of Spanish moss

Illustration of spanish moss

Examples of Spanish moss in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The sun became hotter, and Spanish moss stroked the roof of the train. Monisha Rajesh, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2024 Large shaded verandas, mint juleps and shaded trees covered with Spanish moss had little to do with most of Arkansas. Curtis Varnell The Timepiece, arkansasonline.com, 13 Oct. 2024 About This Episode For the last episode of the season, a reader has a Spanish moss dilemma. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2024 Great for: Day trippers and campers looking to get lost under Spanish moss and in the Dungeness ruins, or spot a wild horse on the sand. Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 2 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Spanish moss 

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Spanish moss was in 1823

Dictionary Entries Near Spanish moss

Cite this Entry

“Spanish moss.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Spanish%20moss. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

Spanish moss

noun
: a plant related to the pineapple that forms hanging tufts of grayish green threadlike strands on trees from the southern U.S. to Argentina

More from Merriam-Webster on Spanish moss

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