foxtail

[foks-teyl]

noun

1. the tail tails of a fox.

2. any of various grasses having soft, brushlike spikes of flowers.

foxtail

/ ˈfɒksˌteɪl /

noun

1. any grass of the genus Alopecurus , esp A. pratensis , of Europe, Asia, and South America, having soft cylindrical spikes of flowers: cultivated as a pasture grass

2. any of various similar and related grasses, esp any of the genus Setaria

Word History and Origins

Origin of foxtail¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; fox, tail ¹

Example Sentences

“This is a foxtail,” Cuoco captioned a photo of the annual summer grass.

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“Prickly foxtails, poisonous weeds, tall grass, even the leaves of trees. They’ll stand on their hind legs to reach them.”

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The fox tricks the barnyard animals in the foxtail version.

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Another tried to hide a plush blanket that was covered in foxtail seeds, ruined by an impromptu picnic.

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They are targeting Johnson grass, giant foxtail, Canada thistle, nodding thistle, common teasel, multiflora rose, Amur honeysuckle, poison hemlock, marestail, Japanese knotweed and kudzu.

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