spathe

English

Etymology

From Latin spatha, from Ancient Greek σπάθη (spáthē, “blade”). Doublet of epee, spatha, and spade.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /speɪð/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪð

Noun

spathe (plural spathes)

1. (botany) A large bract that envelops or subtends a whole inflorescence, typically a spadix.
   • 1869, Alfred Russel Wallace, The Malay Archipelago, volume II, London: Macmillan and Co., page 257:

     All the joints and angles are coffered with strips of split rattan sewn neatly on. The lid is covered with the brown leathery spathe of the Areca palm, which is impervious to water, and the whole box is neat, strong, and well finished.

Derived terms

• spathaceous
• spathal
• spathate
• spathed

Translations

large bract that envelopes a spadix

• Bulgarian: please add this translation if you can
• Faroese: hylkisblað n
• Finnish: spatha, puikelon suojuslehti
• Icelandic: hulsturblað n
• Polish: pochwa kwiatostanowa f
• Swedish: hölsterblad n, hölster (sv) n
• Tày: bo, cáp
• Vietnamese: mo (vi)

See also

• spadix

Anagrams

• pethas, T-shape, apeths, Spaeth, peshat

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin spatha, from Ancient Greek σπάθη (spáthē). Doublet of épée, which was inherited.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /spat/

Noun

spathe f (plural spathes)

1. (botany) spathe

Further reading

• “spathe”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012