old-man's-beard

[ ohld-manz-beerd ]

noun

1. fringe tree.
2. beard moss.
3. traveler's-joy.

old man's beard

noun

1. any of various plants having a white feathery appearance, esp traveller's joy and Spanish moss

Word History and Origins

Origin of old-man's-beard¹

First recorded in 1735–45

Example Sentences

Then upon thyme and tansy think, On fields of sainfoin, ruddy pink, On dells deep down and rocks upreared, On lad's-love and on old-man's-beard, On spearmint and on silver sages, On colewort and on saxifrages!

From Project Gutenberg

With this he disappeared In hazel and thorn tangled with old-man's-beard.

From Project Gutenberg

Yes, Spanish moss, as we call it here, or old-man’s-beard moss, as they name it in other parts.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a beautiful unkept hedge with scarlet and purple fruit among the many-coloured fading leaves and silver-grey down of old-man's-beard.

From Project Gutenberg