spear grass

American  

noun

1. any of various grasses, as a meadow grass or a bent grass, having lance-shaped leaves or floral spikes.

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spear grass British  

noun

1. another name for wild Spaniard

2. any of various native Australian grasses, esp of the genera Stipa or Heteropogon , with sharp-pointed seeds

3. any of various grasses with sharp stiff blades or seeds

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Etymology

Origin of spear grass

First recorded in 1540–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spear grass

The same strip of soft sandy flat about half-a-mile wide continued, but better grassed, although the spear grass was far too common.

From Narrative of the Overland Expedition of the Messrs. Jardine from Rockhampton to Cape York, Northern Queensland by Byerley, Frederick, J.

October 10.—Set fire to the low spear grass of the valley.

From The Nile tributaries of Abyssinia, and the sword hunters of the Hamran arabs by Baker, Samuel White, Sir

September 26.—The weather is now intensely hot, and the short spear grass is drying so rapidly that in some stony places it can be fired.

From The Nile tributaries of Abyssinia, and the sword hunters of the Hamran arabs by Baker, Samuel White, Sir

Hundreds and thousands of northern flocks receive, during the entire winter, nothing but ordinary hay, consisting mainly of Timothy, some red and white clover, and frequently a sprinkling of gum, or spear grass.

From Sheep, Swine, and Poultry Embracing the History and Varieties of Each; The Best Modes of Breeding; Their Feeding and Management; Together with etc. by Jennings, Robert

Native grasses are the white clover, spear grass, blue grass, fox-tail and crab grass, the two last-named being summer or annual grasses.

From History and Comprehensive Description of Loudoun County, Virginia by Head, James William