beggar-ticks

American  

[beg-er-tiks] / ˈbɛg ərˌtɪks /

Or beggar's-ticks

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. any of several composite plants of the genus Bidens, having rayless yellow flowers and barbed achenes that cling to clothing.

2. the achenes of these plants.

3. any of several other plants having seeds or fruits that cling to clothing, as those of the genus Desmodium.

---

beggar-ticks British  

noun

1. any of various plants, such as the bur marigold and tick trefoil, having fruits or seeds that cling to clothing, fur, etc

2. the seed or fruit of any of these plants

---

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• beggar-ticks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of beggar-ticks

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55

Example Sentences

It was overrun with Roman wormwood and beggar-ticks, which last stuck to my clothes for all fruit.

From Walden by Thoreau, Henry David