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Glite Dictionary
Spanish dagger

Spanish dagger

8.7
A plant with long pointed leaves like swords and clusters of white flowers
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : daga española
  • The Spanish dagger in our garden bloomed this spring with beautiful white flowers.

Examples

  • Many animals use the dense leaves of the Spanish dagger for shelter in the desert.

  • The Spanish dagger is known for its sharp leaves.

  • We planted a Spanish dagger to add a touch of southwestern flair to the yard.

  • Many gardeners appreciate the Spanish daggers in their landscape.

  • The garden was beautiful, especially with the tall Spanish dagger plants showcasing their pointed leaves and white flowers.

  • While hiking in the desert, we noticed a striking Spanish dagger standing out among the other plants.

  • The Spanish dagger is known for its dramatic sword-shaped leaves that add visual interest to the landscape.

Synonyms

yucca
vsSpanish dagger
4 7.1

A plant with long stiff pointed leaves and white flowers that grows in warm dry places

is one specific species within that broader genus
Spanish bayonet
vsSpanish dagger
  • US
8.6

A desert plant with stiff, sharp leaves and white flower clusters

is almost identical but varies by regional name
Yucca gloriosa
vsSpanish dagger
  • Specialized
9.3

A large plant from the southeastern United States with long smooth leaves and a short trunk

is taller with sharper, more pointed leaves
Yucca aloifolia
vsSpanish dagger
  • Specialized
9.9

A garden plant with long stiff leaves with sharp tips and white flowers

lacks prominent spine tips and has plain pointed leaves
Yucca carnerosana
vsSpanish dagger
  • Specialized
9.9

A tree-like plant with long sword-shaped leaves and tall white flower spikes from the southwestern US and northern Mexico

is native to more southeastern parts rather than southwestern range
Yucca elata
vsSpanish dagger
  • Specialized
9.6

A tall tree-like desert plant with a thin trunk and clusters of white flowers

is shorter and less tree like with broader leaves
Yucca baccata
vsSpanish dagger
  • Specialized
9.8

A tall desert plant with a woody stem, stiff long leaves, and large white flower clusters

has narrower sword shaped leaves and southern coastal presence

Surface Forms

Spanish dagger singular
Spanish daggers plural

Morphology

Spanish + dagger

The name uses a metaphorical extension of 'dagger' to describe dagger-shaped (pointed) leaves, so a learner knowing 'Spanish' and 'dagger' could infer something dagger-shaped or sharp. However, the fact that it denotes a specific yucca plant (not an actual weapon or necessarily something from Spain) is not directly derivable from the constituents, making the referent and exact meaning only partly predictable.

Etymology

Spanish dagger gets its name from its long, sharp leaves that look like a dagger or small sword. One popular idea is that early Spanish settlers used that image when naming it, so today 'Spanish dagger' means this pointed, sword-like plant.