corn cockle

noun

1. a plant, Agrostemma githago, of the pink family, having magenta-purple flowers and occurring commonly as a weed among crops of grain.

Word History and Origins

Origin of corn cockle¹

First recorded in 1705–15

Example Sentences

Bees and some long-tongued flies seen about the corn cockle doubtless get pollen only; but there are few flowers so deep that the longest-tongued bees cannot sip them.

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