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

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

On Monday, Miami-Dade County answered that question with a FIFA 2026 scarf, a toy FIU Panthers mascot, a traditional Miccosukee palmetto fiber doll and a poster of the year’s skyline. — Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026

Get lost among the pines and palmettos of an ancient maritime forest at Hunting Island State Park, catch a striking sunset over the Beaufort River, and marvel at the columns and sweeping porches of stately mansions on Historic Craven Street. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026

Lined with stately houses and palmetto and oak trees, this scenic area offers sweeping views of Charleston Harbor and Fort Sumter in the distance. — Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 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