spinifex

[ spahy-nuh-feks ]

noun

, plural spi·ni·fex, spi·ni·fex·es.

1. any of several Australian grasses of the genera Spinifex, Plectrachne, or Triodia, having spiny seeds and stiff, sharp-pointed leaves that grow in dense masses.

spinifex

/ ˈspɪnɪˌfɛks /

noun

1. Also calledporcupine grass any of various coarse spiny-leaved inland grasses of the genus Triodia
2. any grass of the SE Asian genus Spinifex, having pointed leaves and spiny seed heads: often planted to bind loose sand

Word History and Origins

Origin of spinifex¹

First recorded in 1845–55; from New Latin spīnifex, literally “spine maker,” equivalent to Latin spīn(a) “thorn, spine, backbone” + -i- ( def ) + -fex ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of spinifex¹

C19: from New Latin, from Latin spīna a thorn + -fex maker, from facere to make

Example Sentences

Up jumped Nquing from his burrow in the spinifex and shouted, "Go away!"

From Project Gutenberg

As we ascended it we passed many isolated hills of perhaps a few hundred feet, and nowhere did I see any scrub or spinifex.

From Project Gutenberg

Often the wells were quite dry and food painfully scarce; this would be in a region of sand and spinifex.

From Project Gutenberg

Spinifex and sand resumed their predominance as the travellers left the lake behind them.

From Project Gutenberg

The spinifex that grew in the interstices of the rocks was also no inconsiderable hindrance to our movements.

From Project Gutenberg