water hyacinth

noun

1. a floating aquatic plant, Eichornia crassipes, of tropical lakes and rivers, that grows so prolifically it often hinders the passage of boats.

water hyacinth

noun

1. a floating aquatic plant, Eichhornia crassipes, of tropical America, having showy bluish-purple flowers and swollen leafstalks: family Pontederiaceae. It forms dense masses in rivers, ponds, etc, and is a serious problem in the southern US, Australia, and parts of Africa

Word History and Origins

Origin of water hyacinth¹

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Both are made of natural water hyacinth fibers woven around a metal base.

From Washington Post

Farm-yard manure is preferred, but castor-cake and the water hyacinth--a weed--constitute good substitutes.

From Project Gutenberg

They could smell the water hyacinth which floated endlessly down to the sea.

From Project Gutenberg

We also thought of water hyacinth in the Tigris and Euphrates.

From Project Gutenberg