sisal

[ sahy-suhl, sis-uhl ]

noun

1. Also called sisal hemp. a fiber yielded by an agave, Agave sisalana, of Yucatán, used for making rope, rugs, etc.
2. the plant itself.

sisal

/ ˈsaɪsəl /

noun

1. a Mexican agave plant, Agave sisalana, cultivated for its large fleshy leaves, which yield a stiff fibre used for making rope
2. the fibre of this plant
3. any of the fibres of certain similar or related plants

Word History and Origins

Origin of sisal¹

1835–45; short for Sisal grass or hemp, named after Sisal, port in Yucatán

Word History and Origins

Origin of sisal¹

C19: from Mexican Spanish, named after Sisal, a port in Yucatán, Mexico

Example Sentences

For your feline friends, small sisal rugs or rug samples can replace scratching posts and are much more visually appealing.

From Seattle Times

For indoor rugs, rather than moving all the furniture, you can pop a fuzzy rug over your cotton or sisal rug until the robins start singing.

From Seattle Times

She reeled off a list of the items now too expensive: sugar, maize flour, her daughter’s school fees, the sisal to make her baskets.

From New York Times

Dark gray walls and a sisal carpet make the perfect setting for early-2000s works by the English hard-edge painter Bridget Riley, all featuring her signature rolling, serif-like waves of lucid color.

From New York Times

"For instance, pairing a plush sheepskin accent rug on top of a woven sisal rug is a great way to contrast the two materials in a soft yet effective way."

From Salon