cotton grass

noun

1. any rushlike plant constituting the genus Eriophorum, of the sedge family, common in swampy places and bearing spikes resembling tufts of cotton.

cotton grass

noun

1. any of various N temperate and arctic grasslike bog plants of the cyperaceous genus Eriophorum, whose clusters of long silky hairs resemble cotton tufts Also calledbog cotton

Word History and Origins

Origin of cotton grass¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; so called from its cottonlike heads

Example Sentences

White as mountain cotton-grass is each hair that grows through his head.

From Project Gutenberg

For she could see nothing near the boulders then but waving cotton-grass amongst the bog and heather.

From Project Gutenberg

The large tract of swampy ground at the edge of the lake was covered by masses of cotton grass.

From Project Gutenberg

Many attempts have been made to spin the silky threads of the Cotton-grass which grows abundantly on the Scotch lowlands.

From Project Gutenberg

A child presented me with a bunch of cotton-grass, gathered on the moors not far from the Roman-Wall.

From Project Gutenberg