Dictionary

wait-a-bit en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (General-American) audio

Etymology

From Afrikaans wag-'n-bietjie.

Meanings

1. (South-Africa) Any of certain plants with sharp hooked thorns found in southern and eastern Africa. ▸ One of numerous acacias and mimosas and relatives. ▸ Senegalia brevispica (wait-a-bit acacia)
2. (South-Africa) Any of certain plants with sharp hooked thorns found in southern and eastern Africa. ▸ One of numerous acacias and mimosas and relatives. ▸ Biancaea decapetala (syn. Caesalpinia decapetala, Mauritius thorn, Mysore thorn)
3. Any of certain plants with sharp hooked thorns found in southern and eastern Africa. ▸ Ziziphus mucronata (buffalo thorn, Cape thorn)
4. Any of certain plants with sharp hooked thorns found in southern and eastern Africa. ▸ The grapple plant (Uncarina leptocarpa).
5. Any of certain plants with sharp hooked thorns found in southern and eastern Africa. ▸ Asparagus spp. of South Africa (Asparagus capensis, Asparagus suaveolens, Asparagus burchellii, Asparagus mariae, Asparagus flavicaulis, Asparagus spinescens)

Forms

wait-a-bit en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (General-American) audio

Etymology

From the delay caused by the recurved thorns.

Meanings

1. Certain thorny shrubs and trees of North America: ▸ The common prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum).
2. Certain thorny shrubs and trees of North America: ▸ The greenbrier (Smilax spp., esp. Smilax rotundifolia).
3. Certain thorny shrubs and trees of North America: ▸ Any of various species of hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli, etc.).
4. Certain thorny shrubs and trees of North America: ▸ Mimosa aculeaticarpa (catclaw mimosa, wait-a-minute bush), of southwestern US and northern Mexico.
5. Certain thorny shrubs and trees of North America: ▸ Senegalia greggii (catclaw acacia), of southwestern US and northern Mexico.

Forms

Relateds

wait-a-minute · wait-a-while