istle

[ ist-lee ]

noun

1. a fiber from any of several tropical American plants of the genus Agave or Yucca, used in making bagging, carpets, etc.

istle

/ ˈɪstlɪ /

noun

1. a fibre obtained from various tropical American agave and yucca trees used in making carpets, cord, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of istle¹

1880–85; < Mexican Spanish istle, ixtle < Nahuatl īchtli

Word History and Origins

Origin of istle¹

C19: from Mexican Spanish ixtle, from Nahuatl ichtli

Example Sentences

See Istle. the tenth letter in our alphabet, developed from I, the initial form j being specialised to denote the consonantal sound, the medial i being retained for the vowel-sound—not universal in English books before the middle of the 17th century.

From Project Gutenberg

Mexican fibre, or Istle, is obtained from the agave.

From Project Gutenberg

The hard or leaf fibers, including manila, sisal, istle and the New Zealand fibers, all having rather stiff woody fibers, one to ten feet long, are obtained from the leaf or the leaf stem.

From Project Gutenberg

Huccum I knows how to chaw terbacca, or to w'istle thoo my teef?

From Project Gutenberg

You'll be as keen as a w'istle in a couple o' months.

From Project Gutenberg