palmetto

noun

pal·​met·​to pal-ˈme-(ˌ)tō 

also pä-, 

päl-, 

pȯ-, 

pȯl-

plural palmettos or palmettoes

1

: any of several usually low-growing fan-leaved palms

especially : cabbage palmetto

2

: strips of the leaf blade of a palmetto used in weaving

Illustration of palmetto

• palmetto 1

Examples of palmetto in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Under the new Endangered Species Act interpretations, it would not be considered a federal offense to clear private palmetto flatwoods or cypress domes. — Timothy Randhir, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026

But a free-ranging deer of such size and age in Florida’s palmetto scrub country is a giant among giants. — Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 24 Sep. 2026

Just water, the tips of reeds, a floating mat of palmetto thatching that might have been someone’s roof. — Literary Hub, 16 July 2026

Sweetgrass baskets are sewed with Low Country sweetgrass, bulrush, pine needles, and palmetto fronds. — Jeanne Malle, Air Mail, 4 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

modification of Spanish palmito, from palma palm, from Latin

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing palmetto

• cabbage palmetto
• palmetto bass
• palmetto bug
• saw palmetto

Rhymes for palmetto

• hereto
• libretto
• magneto
• stiletto
• whereto
• allegretto
• lazaretto
• ghetto
• seto

Kids Definition

palmetto

noun

pal·​met·​to pal-ˈmet-ō 

plural palmettos or palmettoes

: any of several usually low-growing palms with fan-shaped leaves