Spanish bayonet

noun

1. any of certain plants belonging to the genus Yucca, of the agave family, having narrow, spine-tipped leaves and a cluster of white flowers.

Spanish bayonet

noun

1. any of several American liliaceous plants of the genus Yucca, esp Y. aloifolia, that have a tall woody stem, stiff pointed leaves, and large clusters of white flowers: cultivated for ornament See also Adam's-needle

Word History and Origins

Origin of Spanish bayonet¹

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; in allusion to its tropical American origin

Example Sentences

Some boys had cut off the long, sharp spears of a Spanish bayonet bush and they were chasing the girls with them.

From Literature

“We could even put some vegetation barriers, simple things, like how about Spanish bayonet?” he asked.

From Washington Post

“It is not very costly,” he said, adding that a vegetation barrier of Spanish bayonet, a plant known for its pointy and sharp leaves, would make for “quite a greeting” to any future intruders.

From US News

Yucca Mohavensis, commonly called "wild date," or "Spanish bayonet," is more widely distributed within our borders than either of our other species.

From Project Gutenberg

The Cross was triumphing over the Crescent in Mindanao quite as much, nay, much more, by the voices of the missionaries as by the Spanish bayonets.

From Project Gutenberg