sandbur

American

[sand-bur] / ˈsændˌbɜr /

Or sandburr

noun

any of various grasses of the genus Cenchrus, having spikelets enclosed in prickly burs. bur.
any of several bur-bearing weeds growing in sandy places, as Franseria acanthicarpa or Solanum rostratum, of the western U.S.

Etymology

Origin of sandbur

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30; sand + bur 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.

When found in the cave, his feet were badly swollen, compelling him to travel in the river-bed to protect them from sandburs and thorns.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023