penny-grass

English

Alternative forms

• penny grass

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛniˌɡɹɑːs/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛniˌɡɹæs/

Noun

penny-grass (uncountable)

1. (obsolete) yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor).
   • 1670, J. B., The Epitome of the Art of Husbandry […] ‎^[1], 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 […] ‎^[2], 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^[3], 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 […]