locoweed

[loh-koh-weed]

noun

1. any of various leguminous plants of the genera Astragalus and Oxytropis, of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, causing locoism in sheep, horses, etc.

locoweed

/ ˈləʊkəʊˌwiːd /

noun

1. any of several perennial leguminous plants of the genera Oxytropis and Astragalus of W North America that cause loco disease in horses, cattle, and sheep

Word History and Origins

Origin of locoweed¹

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80; loco + weed ¹

Example Sentences

West Texas has rigid paintbrush, yellow rocknettle and the purple wooly locoweed.

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He made an altar with cactus spines and purple locoweed flowers.

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Jimsonweed, a k a Jamestown weed, mad apple, devil’s trumpet, locoweed, stinkwort or thorn apple, is a strikingly gothic-looking plant with seedpods that could have inspired the creator of “Little Shop of Horrors.”

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Doc Peets informs me once when we crosses up with some locoweed over by the Cow Springs, that thar's two or three breeds of this malignant vegetable.

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Why, son," he continued, "every longhorn who's ever cinched a Colorado saddle, or roped a steer, is plumb aware of locoweed.

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