sea oat

noun

1
: a tall grass (Uniola paniculata) that has panicles resembling those of the oat, grows on the coast of the southern U.S., and is useful as a sand binder
usually used in plural
2
sea oats plural : a cluster of yellowish vase-shaped egg cases of a whelk of the genus Thais : sea corn

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sea oat was in 1879

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Dictionary Entries Near sea oat

Cite this Entry

“Sea oat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sea%20oat. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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