Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Same as
flax-bush .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Bot.) A plant in new Zealand (
Phormium tenax ), allied to the lilies and aloes. The leaves are two inches wide and several feet long, and furnish a fiber which is used for making ropes, mats, and coarse cloth.
Etymologies
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Examples
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A ship from hence is ready to sail with an increase of force, besides many convicts for the purpose of sawing up timber, and turning the flax-plant to advantage.
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Island, and returned to us on the 26th of August; bringing no material news, except that the soil was found to suit grain, and other seeds, which had been sown in it, and that a species of flax-plant was discovered to grow spontaneously on the island.
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From the flax-plant the natives, as they afterwards discover, make their fishing-lines and nets for carrying their travelling gear and provisions.
A Source Book of Australian History Gwendolen H. [Compiler] Swinburne
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Oh, the constant care and trouble which the little flax-plant occasions!
Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science Volume 12, No. 31, October, 1873 Various
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Some of these, like the covering of the sheep, goat, and llama, or the cocoon of the silk-worm, are of animal origin; others, like cotton furze, the husk of the cocoanut, and the bast of the flax-plant are vegetable products.
Commercial Geography A Book for High Schools, Commercial Courses, and Business Colleges 1895
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On the 20th of July, the 'Supply' sailed for Norfolk Island, and returned to us on the 26th of August; bringing no material news, except that the soil was found to suit grain, and other seeds, which had been sown in it, and that a species of flax-plant was discovered to grow spontaneously on the island.
A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson Watkin Tench 1796
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A ship from hence is ready to sail with an increase of force, besides many convicts for the purpose of sawing up timber, and turning the flax-plant to advantage.
A Narrative of the Expedition to Botany-Bay Watkin Tench 1796
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-- G.F. Notwithstanding the diminutive size of this island, the advantages it presented, especially as to the cultivation of the flax-plant, were sufficient to induce the British government to erect a settlement on it, which was effected by a detachment from Port Jackson under the command of Lieutenant King in 1788.
A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 14 Robert Kerr 1784
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We observed many trees and plants common at New Zealand; and, in particular, the flax-plant, which is rather more luxuriant here than in any part of that country; but the chief produce is a sort of spruce-pine, which grows in great abundance, and to a large size, many of the trees being as thick, breast high, as two men could fathom, and exceedingly straight and tall.
A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 14 Robert Kerr 1784
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The flax-plant, which was seen at the first arrival of our people, has not been found since in any great abundance.
The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay With an Account of the Establishment of the Colonies of Port Jackson and Norfolk Island (1789) Arthur Phillip 1776
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