bedstraw

[ bed-straw ]

noun
  1. a rubiaceous plant, Galium verum, or some allied species, formerly used as straw for stuffing mattresses.

Origin of bedstraw

1
late Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at bed, straw

Words Nearby bedstraw

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How to use bedstraw in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bedstraw

bedstraw

/ (ˈbɛdˌstrɔː) /


noun
  1. any of numerous rubiaceous plants of the genus Galium, which have small white or yellow flowers and prickly or hairy fruits: some species formerly used as straw for beds as they are aromatic when dry: See also lady's bedstraw

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012