besem-riet, noun

/ˈbɪəsəmˌrit/
Forms:
beesem-riet, besom-rietShow more Also beesem-riet, besom-riet, bezem-riet, and with initial capital.
Origin:
Afrikaans, South African DutchShow more Afrikaans (earlier South African Dutch), besem broom + riet reed.
obsolescent
Any of several species of reed-like plants of the Restionaceae used in the manufacture of brooms.
1795 C.R. Hopson tr. of C.P. Thunberg’s Trav. I. 295Of the Restio dichotomus (Beesem-riet) brooms were made to sweep the floors with.
1809 J. Mackrill Diary. 59Besem-riet — for Brooms — Restio dichotomus.
1888 P. MacOwan in C.A. Smith Common Names (1966) 98(Kaalblad may be) easily made harmless by simple thrashing with a bundle of besemriet.
1896 R. Wallace Farming Indust. of Cape Col. 96Some farmers boil ‘besom-riet,’ Restio scoparius,..and administer the decoction. It has no medicinal value.
1966 C.A. Smith Common Names 97Besemriet, Various species of Restionaceae...The brooms made from the culms are very durable.
Any of several species of reed-like plants of the Restionaceae used in the manufacture of brooms.
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17951966

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obsolete or obsolescent
besembos, nounn.beshu, nounn.
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