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Glite Dictionary
silver thatch

silver thatch

9.9
A small palm tree with silvery leaves
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : palma de hojas plateadas
  • The silver thatch palm is easily recognizable by its distinctive silvery leaves and is often found in tropical gardens.

Examples

  • A finely rendered tree in the foreground—a silver thatch palm, Coccothrinax argentata—pins the locale in the Caribbean, probably Jamaica.

    Academic text (2002)

  • Church's sketch of a silver thatch palm, right, dates from 1865.

    Academic text (2002)

  • In southern Florida, the silver thatch palm provides an attractive focal point with its elegant foliage.

  • Botanists appreciate the silver thatch palm for its resilience and beauty in sunny coastal environments.

Synonyms

silvertop palmetto
vssilver thatch
  • US
9.1

A small fan palm with silvery leaves that grows in southern Florida and Cuba

is similar but also grows in the West Indies
Thrinax parviflora
vssilver thatch
  • Specialized
9.9

A small palm tree from southern Florida and the West Indies that looks like the silvertop palmetto

is more noted for pale shiny leaves than mere resemblance
broom palm
vssilver thatch
  • US
9.9

A small palm tree from southern Florida and the West Indies that looks like the silvertop palmetto

is distinguished by pale shiny leaves rather than only resemblance
thatch palm
vssilver thatch
  • US
8.8

A small palm tree from southern Florida and the West Indies with leaves used to cover roofs

is primarily identified by pale shiny leaf colour rather than thatch use
thatch tree
vssilver thatch
  • US
9.9

A small palm tree from southern Florida and the West Indies with leaves used to make roofs

is defined more by pale shiny leaves than general resemblance
Thrinax morrisii
vssilver thatch
  • Specialized
9.9

A small fan palm with a short, thick trunk that grows in southern Florida and Cuba

is notable also for pale shiny leaves and wider West Indies range
Thrinax microcarpa
vssilver thatch
  • Specialized
9.9

A small palm with fan-shaped leaves that grows near the coasts of southern Florida and Cuba

is set apart by pale shiny foliage and presence in the West Indies
Thrinax keyensis
vssilver thatch
  • Specialized
9.9

A small palm with a thin trunk and fan-shaped leaves that grows near coasts

is stockier and especially known for pale shiny leaves
key palm
vssilver thatch
  • US
7.2

A small fan-shaped tree that grows in southern Florida and Cuba

is more notable for pale shiny leaves and wider island distribution

Surface Forms

silver thatch singular
silver thatches plural

Morphology

silver + thatch

Silver clearly denotes a color/appearance and thatch normally refers to roofing material or bundled leaves, so a B1 learner who knows both words would likely infer a literal 'silvery thatch' interpretation. However, the intended sense as the proper name of a small palm species (i.e., a tree) is a specialized botanical usage not fully predictable from the constituents, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Silver thatch: The name silver thatch comes from how the plant looks: its pale, shiny leaves are the silver, and they make a roof of leaves like a thatch. That's why the name describes 'a small palm tree' with silvery leaves.