Spanish moss

noun

: an epiphytic plant (Tillandsia usneoides) of the pineapple family forming pendent tufts of grayish-green filaments on trees from the southern U.S. to Argentina

Illustration of Spanish moss

Illustration of spanish moss

Examples of Spanish moss in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The area around the park truly embodies the classic, primordial look of a southern swamp with its blackwater mirror reflections and towering cypress and tupelo trees with Spanish moss dangling from them. — Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 25 July 2026 Railroad tracks took the place of the river; ranches, live oaks and Spanish moss replaced California’s mountains and open scrubland. — Callum McLennan, Variety, 15 July 2026 What better way to hide secrets, watch ghosts, or paint horror with a romantic brush than in Spanish moss and isolated people? — Lo Patrick, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026 That was the background; in the foreground were about a dozen ancient live-oak trees dripping with Spanish moss. — Fred A. Bernstein, Architectural Digest, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for Spanish moss

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Spanish moss was in 1823

Rhymes for Spanish moss

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Browse Nearby Words

Spanish milled dollar
Spanish moss
Spanish n
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Cite this Entry

“Spanish moss.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Spanish%20moss. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Spanish moss

noun
: a plant related to the pineapple that forms hanging tufts of grayish green threadlike strands on trees from the southern U.S. to Argentina

More from Merriam-Webster on Spanish moss

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Spanish moss

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