wait-a-bit meaning: definition, etymology

wait-a-bit

noun

Etymology From Afrikaans wag-'n-bietjie.

› Any of certain plants with sharp hooked… › One of numerous acacias and mimosas and relatives.

South Africa Senegalia brevispica (wait-a-bit acacia)

South Africa Biancaea decapetala (syn. Caesalpinia decapetala, Mauritius thorn, Mysore thorn)

› Any of certain plants with sharp hooked…

Ziziphus mucronata (buffalo thorn, Cape thorn)

The grapple plant (Uncarina leptocarpa).

Asparagus spp. of South Africa (Asparagus capensis, Asparagus suaveolens, Asparagus burchellii, Asparagus mariae, Asparagus flavicaulis, Asparagus spinescens)

wait-a-bit

noun

Etymology From the delay caused by the recurved thorns.

› Certain thorny shrubs and trees of North America:

The common prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum).

The greenbrier (Smilax spp., esp. Smilax rotundifolia).

Any of various species of hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli, etc.).

Mimosa aculeaticarpa (catclaw mimosa, wait-a-minute bush), of southwestern US and northern Mexico.

Senegalia greggii (catclaw acacia), of southwestern US and northern Mexico.

Related terms: wait-a-minute, wait-a-while