sisal hemp

sisal hemp
    n 1: a plant fiber used for making rope [syn: {sisal}, {sisal
         hemp}]
    

Sisal grass \Si*sal" grass`\, Sisal hemp \Si*sal" hemp`\,
   The prepared fiber of the {Agave Americana}, or American
   aloe, used for cordage; -- so called from Sisal, a port in
   Yucatan. See {Sisal hemp}, under {Hemp}.
   [1913 Webster]
    

Hemp \Hemp\ (h[e^]mp), n. [OE. hemp, AS. henep, h[ae]nep; akin
   to D. hennep, OHG. hanaf, G. hanf, Icel. hampr, Dan. hamp,
   Sw. hampa, L. cannabis, cannabum, Gr. ka`nnabis, ka`nnabos;
   cf. Russ. konoplia, Skr. [,c]a[.n]a; all prob. borrowed from
   some other language at an early time. Cf. {Cannabine},
   {Canvas}.]
   1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus {Cannabis} ({Cannabis
      sativa}), the fibrous skin or bark of which is used for
      making cloth and cordage. The name is also applied to
      various other plants yielding fiber.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The fiber of the skin or rind of the plant, prepared for
      spinning. The name has also been extended to various
      fibers resembling the true hemp.
      [1913 Webster]

   {African hemp}, {Bowstring hemp}. See under {African}, and
      {Bowstring}.

   {Bastard hemp}, the Asiatic herb {Datisca cannabina}.

   {Canada hemp}, a species of dogbane ({Apocynum cannabinum}),
      the fiber of which was used by the Indians.

   {Hemp agrimony}, a coarse, composite herb of Europe
      ({Eupatorium cannabinum}), much like the American boneset.
      

   {Hemp nettle}, a plant of the genus {Galeopsis} ({Galeopsis
      Tetrahit}), belonging to the Mint family.

   {Indian hemp}. See under {Indian}, a.

   {Manila hemp}, the fiber of {Musa textilis}.

   {Sisal hemp}, the fiber of {Agave sisalana}, of Mexico and
      Yucatan.

   {Sunn hemp}, a fiber obtained from a leguminous plant
      ({Crotalaria juncea}).

   {Water hemp}, an annual American weed ({Acnida cannabina}),
      related to the amaranth.
      [1913 Webster]