crab grass

American  

noun

1. an annual grass, Digitaria sanguinalis, common in cultivated and waste grounds and often occurring as a pest weed in lawns.

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crab grass British  

noun

1. any of several coarse weedy grasses of the genus Digitaria, which grow in warm regions and tend to displace other grasses in lawns

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Etymology

Origin of crab grass

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

Then he cut long blades of tough crab grass, and sat cross-legged on the ground tearing the grass lengthwise so that each blade became many strands.

From Literature

On a cool and sunny day recently, the tree stood, as it has for decades as a fixture in the neighborhood, surrounded by crab grass and rose and hibiscus bushes.

From New York Times

As a general rule, summer stagings of “Godspell,” a favorite of church and school theaters, are as common as crab grass.

From New York Times

Boiling water or full-strength white vinegar can kill the leaves and stems of most tender green weeds, such as spotted spurge, crab grass, sow thistle and prickly lettuce — especially when they’re young.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, the problem — or at least the perception of anti-Semitism festering in the party’s ranks — is as persistent as crab grass.

From New York Times