darnel

American  

[dahr-nl] / ˈdɑr nl /

noun

1. any of several grasses of the genus Lolium, having simple stems, flat leaves, and terminal spikes.

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darnel British  

/ ˈdɑːnəl /

noun

1. any of several grasses of the genus Lolium, esp L. temulentum, that grow as weeds in grain fields in Europe and Asia

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Etymology

Origin of darnel

1275–1325; Middle English; compare French (Walloon) darnelle, probably < Germanic

Example Sentences

I think the Duke of Burgundy will fast, Before he’ll buy again at such a rate: ’Twas full of darnel: do you like the taste?”

From Folk-lore of Shakespeare by Thiselton-Dyer, Thomas Firminger

Had the gods loved me I had lain Where darnel is, and thorn, And the wild night-bird's nightlong strain Trembles in boughs forlorn.

From The Listeners and Other Poems by De la Mare, Walter

At no other time could the poor mad king have gone singing aloud, "Crowned with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds, With harlock, hemlocks, nettles, cuckoo-flowers, And darnel."

From The plant-lore & garden-craft of Shakespeare by Ellacombe, Henry Nicholson

This darnel is easily distinguishable from the wheat and barley when headed out, but when both are less developed, 'the closest scrutiny will often fail to detect it.

From Jesus the Christ A Study of the Messiah and His Mission According to Holy Scriptures Both Ancient and Modern by Talmage, James Edward

Henry V. Apple, balm, docks, elder, fig, flower-de-luce, grass, hemp, leek, nettle, fumitory, kecksies, burs, cowslips, burnet, clover, darnel, strawberry, thistles, vine, violet, hemlock. 1st Henry VI.

From The plant-lore & garden-craft of Shakespeare by Ellacombe, Henry Nicholson