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foxtail

American  
[foks-tayl] / ˈfɒksˌteɪl /

noun

  1. the tail of a fox.

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


foxtail British  
/ 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

"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

Etymology

Origin of foxtail

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


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The analysis showed average air temperatures below 66 or above 77 degrees Fahrenheit made fomesafen, glyphosate, and mesotrione -- representing three herbicide sites of action -- less effective on waterhemp, giant foxtail, and morning-glory species.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 19, 2024

Kaley Cuoco has issued a warning to “all my dog lovers out there” after her pup recently underwent a “super intense surgery” to remove a piece of foxtail from his body.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2023

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

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 30, 2021

His compositions might consist of a single branch with a cluster of moss green dwarf chestnuts, or loose stems of pale water lilies or a spray of feathery foxtail barley.

From New York Times ● Nov. 18, 2020

They chewed tender new stems of foxtail, almost as placidly as the animals below.

From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer

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