king devil

American  

noun

1. any of several European hawkweeds introduced into northeastern North America, where they are troublesome weeds.

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Etymology

Origin of king devil

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

The king--devil stare at me--ought to be drilled, if not the whole place would be like a pigstye, where the strongest snout shoves t'other one's out of the trough.

From Project Gutenberg

For years Nunn devoted himself to hunting King Devil while his children grew more bitter, his wife Milly more resigned.

From Time Magazine Archive

When impoverished Nunn Ballew sold some of his livestock and paid $70 for two pedigreed hounds, to raise them from pups with no purpose in life except to catch King Devil, he was ashamed to face his family and his neighbors.

From Time Magazine Archive

When Houdin finally blew a fiery flame and smoke from his mouth,—a well-known act among European performers,—these superstitious islanders absolutely fled from his presence in undisguised consternation, unanimously and vehemently declaring that he must be the king devil himself come to bewitch them.

From Project Gutenberg

Connie turned quickly, and there, not two feet from her, stood "One of them," the man who had ridden King Devil.

From Project Gutenberg