beggar's-lice

English

Alternative forms

• beggars'-lice, beggar lice

Noun

beggar's-lice pl (plural only)

1. Any of various plants, including Galium aparine and (US) Hackelia virginiana, which stick to clothing.
   • 1929, William Faulkner, The Sound and the Fury:

     I had gotten beggar lice and twigs and stuff all over me, inside my clothes and shoes and all, and then I happened to look around and I had my hand right on a bunch of poison oak..