stickseed

[ stik-seed ]

noun
  1. any of the weedy plants belonging to the genus Lappula, having prickly seeds that adhere to clothing.

Origin of stickseed

1
An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; stick2 + seed

Words Nearby stickseed

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for stickseed

stickseed

/ (ˈstɪkˌsiːd) /


noun
  1. any of various Eurasian and North American plants of the boraginaceous genus Lappula, having red-and-blue flowers and small prickly fruits: Also called: beggar's-lice

Origin of stickseed

1
C19: from stick ²; so called because its seeds have adhesive hooks on them

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012