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: a European grass (Elymus repens synonym Agropyron repens) that is naturalized throughout North America and spreads by creeping rhizomes
called also couch grass, quitch, twitch, witchgrass
Examples of quack grass in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Many weeds, such as creeping Charlie (also called ground ivy), dandelions and quack grass, are perennial, meaning their root systems survive throughout the winter to send up those new shoots in spring.
—Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 3 Apr. 2022
Early spring is the best time to tackle weeds that send out long, twining stems among other plants, such as creeping Charlie, bindweed and quack grass.
—Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 3 Apr. 2022
There are many different types of weeds that can spoil a lush, green lawn: crabgrass, dandelions, white clover, quack grass, wood sorrel, bindweed, broad-leaf plantain, cinquefoil and creeping charley to name a few.
—Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 19 Apr. 2019
Buckwheat This fast-growing non-wheat crop is excellent at suppressing weeds like quack grass.
—Sunset, 22 Jan. 2018
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Word History
Etymology
alteration of quick (grass), alteration of quitch (grass)
First Known Use
circa 1818, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near quack grass
Cite this Entry
“Quack grass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quack%20grass. Accessed 16 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
quack grass
noun
: a European grass that is found throughout North America as a weed and that spreads by creeping underground stems
Medical Definition
quack grass
noun
: a European grass of the genus Agropyron (A. repens) that is naturalized throughout North America and has roots and rhizome with diuretic properties
called also couch grass, quitch, twitch, witchgrass
More from Merriam-Webster on quack grass
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about quack grass
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