penny-grass

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English peny gras; equivalent to penny + grass.

Pronunciation

Noun

penny-grass (uncountable)

  1. (obsolete) yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor).
    • 1670, J. B., The Epitome of the Art of Husbandry [] , London: Benjamin Billingſley, page 180:
      Another Graſs is called Penny-Graſs; it groweth low, cloſe to the Earth, in mooriſh Grounds; it hath a Leaf as broad as Twopence , but never beareth a Flower.
    • 1757, John Dyer, “Book I”, in The Fleece: A Poem [] , London: R. and J. Dodsley, page 40:
      Nor taint-worm ſhall infect the yeaning herds / Nor penny-graſs, nor ſpearwort's poiſ'nous leaf.
    • 1904, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Division of Zoology, Zoological Bulletin, volume 2, page 45:
      Plants reported killed by copper sulphate solutions: Wild mustard, wild radish, wild barley, penny grass (if young), shepherds' purse , wild buckwheat []
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