beggarweed

[ beg-er-weed ]
/ ˈbɛg ərˌwid /

noun

any of various tick trefoils, especially Desmodium tortuosum, grown for forage in subtropical regions.
Chiefly British. any weed that impoverishes soil.

Origin of beggarweed

First recorded in 1875–80; beggar + weed1

Words nearby beggarweed

beggar-ticks, beggar-your-neighbor, beggardom, beggarly, beggars can't be choosers, beggarweed, beggary, begging bowl, begging letter, beghard, begin

Example sentences from the Web for beggarweed

  • Ground which produced a heavy crop of cowpeas, velvet beans or beggarweed the previous season is excellent for the purpose.

    The Pecan and its Culture |H. Harold Hume

  • Beggarweed, velvet beans or soja beans will answer well in many localities.

    The Pecan and its Culture |H. Harold Hume

British Dictionary definitions for beggarweed

beggarweed
/ (ˈbɛɡəˌwiːd) /

noun

any of various leguminous plants of the genus Desmodium, esp D. purpureum of the Caribbean, grown in the southern US as forage plants and to improve the soil See also tick trefoil