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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 :   [ gcide ]

  Grass \Grass\, n. [OE. gras, gres, gers, AS, gr[ae]s, g[ae]rs;
     akin to OFries. gres, gers, OS., D., G., Icel., & Goth. gras,
     Dan. gr[ae]s, Sw. gr[aum]s, and prob. to E. green, grow. Cf.
     Graze.]
     1. Popularly: Herbage; the plants which constitute the food
        of cattle and other beasts; pasture.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Bot.) An endogenous plant having simple leaves, a stem
        generally jointed and tubular, the husks or glumes in
        pairs, and the seed single.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: This definition includes wheat, rye, oats, barley,
           etc., and excludes clover and some other plants which
           are commonly called by the name of grass. The grasses
           form a numerous family of plants.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     3. The season of fresh grass; spring. [Colloq.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Two years old next grass.             --Latham.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. Metaphorically used for what is transitory.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Surely the people is grass.           --Is. xl. 7.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The following list includes most of the grasses of the
           United States of special interest, except cereals. Many
           of these terms will be found with definitions in the
           Vocabulary. See Illustrations in Appendix. Barnyard
           grass, for hay. South. Panicum Grus-galli. Bent,
           pasture and hay. Agrostis, several species. Bermuda
           grass, pasture. South. Cynodon Dactylon. Black bent.
           Same as Switch grass (below). Blue bent, hay. North
           and West. Andropogon provincialis. Blue grass,
           pasture. Poa compressa. Blue joint, hay. Northwest.
           Aqropyrum glaucum. Buffalo grass, grazing. Rocky
           Mts., etc.
        (a) Buchlo["e] dectyloides.
        (b) Same as Grama grass (below). Bunch grass, grazing.
            Far West. Eriocoma, Festuca, Stips, etc. Chess,
            or Cheat, a weed. Bromus secalinus, etc. Couch
            grass. Same as Quick grass (below). Crab grass,
        (a) Hay, in South. A weed, in North. Panicum sanguinale.
        (b) Pasture and hay. South. Eleusine Indica. Darnel
        (a) Bearded, a noxious weed. Lolium temulentum.
        (b) Common. Same as Rye grass (below). Drop seed, fair
            for forage and hay. Muhlenbergia, several species.
            English grass. Same as Redtop (below). Fowl meadow
            grass.
        (a) Pasture and hay. Poa serotina.
        (b) Hay, on moist land. Gryceria nervata. Gama grass,
            cut fodder. South. Tripsacum dactyloides. Grama
            grass, grazing. West and Pacific slope. Bouteloua
            oligostachya, etc. Great bunch grass, pasture and
            hay. Far West. Festuca scabrella. Guinea grass, hay.
            South. Panicum jumentorum. Herd's grass, in New
            England Timothy, in Pennsylvania and South Redtop.
            Indian grass. Same as Wood grass (below). Italian
            rye grass, forage and hay. Lolium Italicum. Johnson
            grass, grazing and hay. South and Southwest. Sorghum
            Halepense. Kentucky blue grass, pasture. Poa
            pratensis. Lyme grass, coarse hay. South. Elymus,
            several species. Manna grass, pasture and hay.
            Glyceria, several species. Meadow fescue, pasture
            and hay. Festuca elatior. Meadow foxtail, pasture,
            hay, lawn. North. Alopecurus pratensis. Meadow
            grass, pasture, hay, lawn. Poa, several species.
            Mesquite grass, or Muskit grass. Same as Grama grass
            (above). Nimble Will, a kind of drop seed.
            Muhlenbergia diffsa. Orchard grass, pasture and hay.
            Dactylis glomerata. Porcupine grass, troublesome to
            sheep. Northwest. Stipa spartea. Quaking grass,
            ornamental. Briza media and maxima. Quitch, or
            Quick, grass, etc., a weed. Agropyrum repens. Ray
            grass. Same as Rye grass (below). Redtop, pasture
            and hay. Agrostis vulgaris. Red-topped buffalo
            grass, forage. Northwest. Poa tenuifolia. Reed
            canary grass, of slight value. Phalaris arundinacea.
            Reed meadow grass, hay. North. Glyceria aquatica.
            Ribbon grass, a striped leaved form of Reed canary
            grass. Rye grass, pasture, hay. Lolium perenne,
            var. Seneca grass, fragrant basket work, etc. North.
            Hierochloa borealis. Sesame grass. Same as Gama
            grass (above). Sheep's fescue, sheep pasture, native
            in Northern Europe and Asia. Festuca ovina. Small
            reed grass, meadow pasture and hay. North. Deyeuxia
            Canadensis. Spear grass, Same as Meadow grass
            (above). Squirrel-tail grass, troublesome to animals.
            Seacoast and Northwest. Hordeum jubatum. Switch
            grass, hay, cut young. Panicum virgatum. Timothy,
            cut young, the best of hay. North. Phleum pratense.
            Velvet grass, hay on poor soil. South. Holcus
            lanatus. Vernal grass, pasture, hay, lawn.
            Anthoxanthum odoratum. Wire grass, valuable in
            pastures. Poa compressa. Wood grass, Indian grass,
            hay. Chrysopogon nutans.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Many plants are popularly called grasses which are not
           true grasses botanically considered, such as black
           grass, goose grass, star grass, etc.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     Black+grass,+a+kind+of+small+rush+({Juncus+Gerardi" rel="nofollow">Black grass, a kind of small rush ({Juncus Gerardi),
        growing in salt marshes, used for making salt hay.
  
     Grass of the Andes, an oat grass, the Arrhenatherum
        avenaceum of Europe.
  
     Grass of Parnassus, a plant of the genus Parnassia
        growing in wet ground. The European species is Parnassia
        palustris; in the United States there are several
        species.
  
     Grass bass (Zo["o]l.), the calico bass.
  
     Grass bird, the dunlin.
  
     Grass cloth, a cloth woven from the tough fibers of the
        grass-cloth plant.
  
     Grass-cloth plant, a perennial herb of the Nettle family
        ({B[oe]hmeria nivea syn. Urtica nivea), which grows in
        Sumatra, China, and Assam, whose inner bark has fine and
        strong fibers suited for textile purposes.
  
     Grass finch. (Zo["o]l.)
        (a) A common American sparrow ({Po["o]c[ae]tes
            gramineus); -- called also vesper sparrow and
            bay-winged bunting.
        (b) Any Australian finch, of the genus Po["e]phila, of
            which several species are known.
  
     Grass lamb, a lamb suckled by a dam running on pasture land
        and giving rich milk.
  
     Grass land, land kept in grass and not tilled.
  
     Grass moth (Zo["o]l.), one of many small moths of the genus
        Crambus, found in grass.
  
     Grass oil, a fragrant essential volatile oil, obtained in
        India from grasses of the genus Andropogon, etc.; --
        used in perfumery under the name of citronella, ginger
        grass oil, lemon grass oil, essence of verbena etc.
        
  
     Grass owl (Zo["o]l.), a South African owl ({Strix
        Capensis).
  
     Grass parrakeet (Zo["o]l.), any of several species of
        Australian parrots, of the genus Euphemia; -- also
        applied to the zebra parrakeet.
  
     Grass plover (Zo["o]l.), the upland or field plover.
  
     Grass poly (Bot.), a species of willowwort ({Lythrum
        Hyssopifolia). --Johnson.
  
     Crass quit (Zo["o]l.), one of several tropical American
        finches of the genus Euetheia. The males have most of
        the head and chest black and often marked with yellow.
  
     Grass snake. (Zo["o]l.)
        (a) The common English, or ringed, snake ({Tropidonotus
            natrix).
        (b) The common green snake of the Northern United States.
            See Green snake, under Green.
  
     Grass snipe (Zo["o]l.), the pectoral sandpiper ({Tringa
        maculata); -- called also jacksnipe in America.
  
     Grass spider (Zo["o]l.), a common spider ({Agelena
        n[ae]via), which spins flat webs on grass, conspicuous
        when covered with dew.
  
     Grass sponge (Zo["o]l.), an inferior kind of commercial
        sponge from Florida and the Bahamas.
  
     Grass table. (Arch.) See Earth table, under Earth.
  
     Grass+vetch+(Bot.),+a+vetch+({Lathyrus+Nissolia" rel="nofollow">Grass vetch (Bot.), a vetch ({Lathyrus Nissolia), with
        narrow grasslike leaves.
  
     Grass widow. [Cf. Prov. R. an unmarried mother, G.
        strohwittwe a mock widow, Sw. gr["a]senka a grass widow.]
        (a) An unmarried woman who is a mother. [Obs.]
        (b) A woman separated from her husband by abandonment or
            prolonged absence; a woman living apart from her
            husband. [Slang.]
  
     Grass wrack (Bot.) eelgrass.
  
     To bring to grass (Mining.), to raise, as ore, to the
        surface of the ground.
  
     To put to grass, To put out to grass, to put out to graze
        a season, as cattle.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 :   [ gcide ]

  Black \Black\ (bl[a^]k), a. [OE. blak, AS. bl[ae]c; akin to
     Icel. blakkr dark, swarthy, Sw. bl["a]ck ink, Dan. bl[ae]k,
     OHG. blach, LG. & D. blaken to burn with a black smoke. Not
     akin to AS. bl[=a]c, E. bleak pallid. [root]98.]
     1. Destitute of light, or incapable of reflecting it; of the
        color of soot or coal; of the darkest or a very dark
        color, the opposite of white; characterized by such a
        color; as, black cloth; black hair or eyes.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              O night, with hue so black!           --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. In a less literal sense: Enveloped or shrouded in
        darkness; very dark or gloomy; as, a black night; the
        heavens black with clouds.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              I spy a black, suspicious, threatening cloud.
                                                    --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Fig.: Dismal, gloomy, or forbidding, like darkness;
        destitute of moral light or goodness; atrociously wicked;
        cruel; mournful; calamitous; horrible. ``This day's black
        fate.'' ``Black villainy.'' ``Arise, black vengeance.''
        ``Black day.'' ``Black despair.'' --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. Expressing menace, or discontent; threatening; sullen;
        foreboding; as, to regard one with black looks.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Black is often used in self-explaining compound words;
           as, black-eyed, black-faced, black-haired,
           black-visaged.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     Black act, the English statute 9 George I, which makes it a
        felony to appear armed in any park or warren, etc., or to
        hunt or steal deer, etc., with the face blackened or
        disguised. Subsequent acts inflicting heavy penalties for
        malicious injuries to cattle and machinery have been
        called black acts.
  
     Black angel (Zo["o]l.), a fish of the West Indies and
        Florida ({Holacanthus tricolor), with the head and tail
        yellow, and the middle of the body black.
  
     Black antimony (Chem.), the black sulphide of antimony,
        Sb2S3, used in pyrotechnics, etc.
  
     Black bear (Zo["o]l.), the common American bear ({Ursus
        Americanus).
  
     Black beast. See B[^e]te noire.
  
     Black beetle (Zo["o]l.), the common large cockroach
        ({Blatta orientalis).
  
     Black bonnet (Zo["o]l.), the black-headed bunting ({Embriza
        Sch[oe]niclus) of Europe.
  
     Black canker, a disease in turnips and other crops,
        produced by a species of caterpillar.
  
     Black cat (Zo["o]l.), the fisher, a quadruped of North
        America allied to the sable, but larger. See Fisher.
  
     Black cattle, any bovine cattle reared for slaughter, in
        distinction from dairy cattle. [Eng.]
  
     Black cherry. See under Cherry.
  
     Black cockatoo (Zo["o]l.), the palm cockatoo. See
        Cockatoo.
  
     Black copper. Same as Melaconite.
  
     Black currant. (Bot.) See Currant.
  
     Black diamond. (Min.) See Carbonado.
  
     Black draught (Med.), a cathartic medicine, composed of
        senna and magnesia.
  
     Black drop (Med.), vinegar of opium; a narcotic preparation
        consisting essentially of a solution of opium in vinegar.
        
  
     Black earth, mold; earth of a dark color. --Woodward.
  
     Black flag, the flag of a pirate, often bearing in white a
        skull and crossbones; a signal of defiance.
  
     Black+flea+(Zo["o]l.),+a+flea+beetle+({Haltica+nemorum" rel="nofollow">Black flea (Zo["o]l.), a flea beetle ({Haltica nemorum)
        injurious to turnips.
  
     Black flux, a mixture of carbonate of potash and charcoal,
        obtained by deflagrating tartar with half its weight of
        niter. --Brande & C.
  
     Black Forest [a translation of G. Schwarzwald], a forest in
        Baden and W["u]rtemburg, in Germany; a part of the ancient
        Hercynian forest.
  
     Black game, or Black grouse. (Zo["o]l.) See Blackcock,
        Grouse, and Heath grouse.
  
     Black grass (Bot.), a grasslike rush of the species Juncus
        Gerardi, growing on salt marshes, and making good hay.
  
     Black gum (Bot.), an American tree, the tupelo or
        pepperidge. See Tupelo.
  
     Black Hamburg (grape) (Bot.), a sweet and juicy variety of
        dark purple or ``black'' grape.
  
     Black horse (Zo["o]l.), a fish of the Mississippi valley
        ({Cycleptus elongatus), of the sucker family; the
        Missouri sucker.
  
     Black lemur (Zo["o]l.), the Lemurniger of Madagascar; the
        acoumbo of the natives.
  
     Black list, a list of persons who are for some reason
        thought deserving of censure or punishment; -- esp. a list
        of persons stigmatized as insolvent or untrustworthy, made
        for the protection of tradesmen or employers. See
        Blacklist, v. t.
  
     Black manganese (Chem.), the black oxide of manganese,
        MnO2.
  
     Black Maria, the close wagon in which prisoners are carried
        to or from jail.
  
     Black martin (Zo["o]l.), the chimney swift. See Swift.
  
     Black moss (Bot.), the common so-called long moss of the
        southern United States. See Tillandsia.
  
     Black oak. See under Oak.
  
     Black ocher. See Wad.
  
     Black pigment, a very fine, light carbonaceous substance,
        or lampblack, prepared chiefly for the manufacture of
        printers' ink. It is obtained by burning common coal tar.
        
  
     Black plate, sheet iron before it is tinned. --Knight.
  
     Black quarter, malignant anthrax with engorgement of a
        shoulder or quarter, etc., as of an ox.
  
     Black rat (Zo["o]l.), one of the species of rats ({Mus
        rattus), commonly infesting houses.
  
     Black rent. See Blackmail, n., 3.
  
     Black rust, a disease of wheat, in which a black, moist
        matter is deposited in the fissures of the grain.
  
     Black sheep, one in a family or company who is unlike the
        rest, and makes trouble.
  
     Black silver. (Min.) See under Silver.
  
     Black and tan, black mixed or spotted with tan color or
        reddish brown; -- used in describing certain breeds of
        dogs.
  
     Black tea. See under Tea.
  
     Black tin (Mining), tin ore (cassiterite), when dressed,
        stamped and washed, ready for smelting. It is in the form
        of a black powder, like fine sand. --Knight.
  
     Black walnut. See under Walnut.
  
     Black warrior (Zo["o]l.), an American hawk ({Buteo
        Harlani).
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: Dark; murky; pitchy; inky; somber; dusky; gloomy; swart;
          Cimmerian; ebon; atrocious.
          [1913 Webster]

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) :   [ web1913 ]

  Black \Black\, a. [OE. blak, AS. bl[ae]c; akin to Icel. blakkr
     dark, swarthy, Sw. bl["a]ck ink, Dan. bl[ae]k, OHG. blach,
     LG. & D. blaken to burn with a black smoke. Not akin to AS.
     bl[=a]c, E. bleak pallid. ?98.]
     1. Destitute of light, or incapable of reflecting it; of the
        color of soot or coal; of the darkest or a very dark
        color, the opposite of white; characterized by such a
        color; as, black cloth; black hair or eyes.
  
              O night, with hue so black!           --Shak.
  
     2. In a less literal sense: Enveloped or shrouded in
        darkness; very dark or gloomy; as, a black night; the
        heavens black with clouds.
  
              I spy a black, suspicious, threatening cloud.
                                                    --Shak.
  
     3. Fig.: Dismal, gloomy, or forbidding, like darkness;
        destitute of moral light or goodness; atrociously wicked;
        cruel; mournful; calamitous; horrible. ``This day's black
        fate.'' ``Black villainy.'' ``Arise, black vengeance.''
        ``Black day.'' ``Black despair.'' --Shak.
  
     4. Expressing menace, or discontent; threatening; sullen;
        foreboding; as, to regard one with black looks.
  
     Note: Black is often used in self-explaining compound words;
           as, black-eyed, black-faced, black-haired,
           black-visaged.
  
     Black act, the English statute 9 George I, which makes it a
        felony to appear armed in any park or warren, etc., or to
        hunt or steal deer, etc., with the face blackened or
        disguised. Subsequent acts inflicting heavy penalties for
        malicious injuries to cattle and machinery have been
        called black acts.
  
     Black angel (Zo["o]l.), a fish of the West Indies and
        Florida ({Holacanthus tricolor), with the head and tail
        yellow, and the middle of the body black.
  
     Black antimony (Chem.), the black sulphide of antimony,
        Sb2S3, used in pyrotechnics, etc.
  
     Black bear (Zo["o]l.), the common American bear ({Ursus
        Americanus).
  
     Black beast. See B[^e]te noire.
  
     Black beetle (Zo["o]l.), the common large cockroach
        ({Blatta orientalis).
  
     Black and blue, the dark color of a bruise in the flesh,
        which is accompanied with a mixture of blue. ``To pinch
        the slatterns black and blue.'' --Hudibras.
  
     Black bonnet (Zo["o]l.), the black-headed bunting ({Embriza
        Sch[oe]niclus) of Europe.
  
     Black canker, a disease in turnips and other crops,
        produced by a species of caterpillar.
  
     Black cat (Zo["o]l.), the fisher, a quadruped of North
        America allied to the sable, but larger. See Fisher.
  
     Black cattle, any bovine cattle reared for slaughter, in
        distinction from dairy cattle. [Eng.]
  
     Black cherry. See under Cherry.
  
     Black cockatoo (Zo["o]l.), the palm cockatoo. See
        Cockatoo.
  
     Black copper. Same as Melaconite.
  
     Black currant. (Bot.) See Currant.
  
     Black diamond. (Min.) See Carbonado.
  
     Black draught (Med.), a cathartic medicine, composed of
        senna and magnesia.
  
     Black drop (Med.), vinegar of opium; a narcotic preparation
        consisting essentially of a solution of opium in vinegar.
        
  
     Black earth, mold; earth of a dark color. --Woodward.
  
     Black flag, the flag of a pirate, often bearing in white a
        skull and crossbones; a signal of defiance.
  
     Black+flea+(Zo["o]l.),+a+flea+beetle+({Haltica+nemorum" rel="nofollow">Black flea (Zo["o]l.), a flea beetle ({Haltica nemorum)
        injurious to turnips.
  
     Black flux, a mixture of carbonate of potash and charcoal,
        obtained by deflagrating tartar with half its weight of
        niter. --Brande & C.
  
     Black fly. (Zo["o]l.)
        (a) In the United States, a small, venomous, two-winged
            fly of the genus Simulium of several species,
            exceedingly abundant and troublesome in the northern
            forests. The larv[ae] are aquatic.
        (b) A black plant louse, as the bean aphis ({A. fab[ae]).
            
  
     Black Forest [a translation of G. Schwarzwald], a forest in
        Baden and W["u]rtemburg, in Germany; a part of the ancient
        Hercynian forest.
  
     Black game, or Black grouse. (Zo["o]l.) See Blackcock,
        Grouse, and Heath grouse.
  
     Black grass (Bot.), a grasslike rush of the species Juncus
        Gerardi, growing on salt marshes, and making good hay.
  
     Black gum (Bot.), an American tree, the tupelo or
        pepperidge. See Tupelo.
  
     Black Hamburg (grape) (Bot.), a sweet and juicy variety of
        dark purple or ``black'' grape.
  
     Black horse (Zo["o]l.), a fish of the Mississippi valley
        ({Cycleptus elongatus), of the sucker family; the
        Missouri sucker.
  
     Black lemur (Zo["o]l.), the Lemurniger of Madagascar; the
        acoumbo of the natives.
  
     Black list, a list of persons who are for some reason
        thought deserving of censure or punishment; -- esp. a list
        of persons stigmatized as insolvent or untrustworthy, made
        for the protection of tradesmen or employers. See
        Blacklist, v. t.
  
     Black manganese (Chem.), the black oxide of manganese,
        MnO2.
  
     Black Maria, the close wagon in which prisoners are carried
        to or from jail.
  
     Black martin (Zo["o]l.), the chimney swift. See Swift.
  
     Black moss (Bot.), the common so-called long moss of the
        southern United States. See Tillandsia.
  
     Black oak. See under Oak.
  
     Black ocher. See Wad.
  
     Black pigment, a very fine, light carbonaceous substance,
        or lampblack, prepared chiefly for the manufacture of
        printers' ink. It is obtained by burning common coal tar.
        
  
     Black plate, sheet iron before it is tinned. --Knight.
  
     Black quarter, malignant anthrax with engorgement of a
        shoulder or quarter, etc., as of an ox.
  
     Black rat (Zo["o]l.), one of the species of rats ({Mus
        rattus), commonly infesting houses.
  
     Black rent. See Blackmail, n., 3.
  
     Black rust, a disease of wheat, in which a black, moist
        matter is deposited in the fissures of the grain.
  
     Black sheep, one in a family or company who is unlike the
        rest, and makes trouble.
  
     Black silver. (Min.) See under Silver.
  
     Black and tan, black mixed or spotted with tan color or
        reddish brown; -- used in describing certain breeds of
        dogs.
  
     Black tea. See under Tea.
  
     Black tin (Mining), tin ore (cassiterite), when dressed,
        stamped and washed, ready for smelting. It is in the form
        of a black powder, like fine sand. --Knight.
  
     Black walnut. See under Walnut.
  
     Black warrior (Zo["o]l.), an American hawk ({Buteo
        Harlani).
  
     Syn: Dark; murky; pitchy; inky; somber; dusky; gloomy; swart;
          Cimmerian; ebon; atrocious.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) :   [ web1913 ]

  Nimble Will, a kind of drop seed. Muhlenbergia diffsa. Orchard
  grass, pasture and hay. Dactylis glomerata. Porcupine grass,
  troublesome to sheep. Northwest. Stipa spartea. Quaking grass,
  ornamental. Briza media and maxima. Quitch, or Quick, grass,
  etc., a weed. Agropyrum repens. Ray grass. Same as Rye grass
  (below). Redtop, pasture and hay. Agrostis vulgaris.
  Red-topped buffalo grass, forage. Northwest. Poa tenuifolia.
  Reed canary grass, of slight value. Phalaris arundinacea. Reed
  meadow grass, hay. North. Glyceria aquatica. Ribbon grass, a
  striped leaved form of Reed canary grass. Rye grass, pasture,
  hay. Lolium perenne, var. Seneca grass, fragrant basket work,
  etc. North. Hierochloa borealis. Sesame grass. Same as Gama
  grass (above). Sheep's fescue, sheep pasture, native in
  Northern Europe and Asia. Festuca ovina. Small reed grass,
  meadow pasture and hay. North. Deyeuxia Canadensis. Spear
  grass, Same as Meadow grass (above). Squirrel-tail grass,
  troublesome to animals. Seacoast and Northwest. Hordeum
  jubatum. Switch grass, hay, cut young. Panicum virgatum.
  Timothy, cut young, the best of hay. North. Phleum pratense.
  Velvet grass, hay on poor soil. South. Holcus lanatus. Vernal
  grass, pasture, hay, lawn. Anthoxanthum odoratum. Wire grass,
  valuable in pastures. Poa compressa. Wood grass, Indian grass,
  hay. Chrysopogon nutans.
  
     Note: Many plants are popularly called grasses which are not
           true grasses botanically considered, such as black
           grass, goose grass, star grass, etc.
  
     Black+grass,+a+kind+of+small+rush+({Juncus+Gerardi" rel="nofollow">Black grass, a kind of small rush ({Juncus Gerardi),
        growing in salt marshes, used for making salt hay.
  
     Grass of the Andes, an oat grass, the Arrhenatherum
        avenaceum of Europe.
  
     Grass of Parnassus, a plant of the genus Parnassia
        growing in wet ground. The European species is P.
        palustris; in the United States there are several
        species.
  
     Grass bass (Zo["o]l.), the calico bass.
  
     Grass bird, the dunlin.
  
     Grass cloth, a cloth woven from the tough fibers of the
        grass-cloth plant.
  
     Grass-cloth plant, a perennial herb of the Nettle family
        ({B[oe]hmeria nivea or Urtica nivea), which grows in
        Sumatra, China, and Assam, whose inner bark has fine and
        strong fibers suited for textile purposes.
  
     Grass finch. (Zo["o]l.)
        (a) A common American sparrow ({Po["o]c[ae]tes
            gramineus); -- called also vesper sparrow and
            bay-winged bunting.
        (b) Any Australian finch, of the genus Po["e]phila, of
            which several species are known.
  
     Grass lamb, a lamb suckled by a dam running on pasture land
        and giving rich milk.
  
     Grass land, land kept in grass and not tilled.
  
     Grass moth (Zo["o]l.), one of many small moths of the genus
        Crambus, found in grass.
  
     Grass oil, a fragrant essential volatile oil, obtained in
        India from grasses of the genus Andropogon, etc.; --
        used in perfumery under the name of citronella, ginger
        grass oil, lemon grass oil, essence of verbena etc.
        
  
     Grass owl (Zo["o]l.), a South African owl ({Strix
        Capensis).
  
     Grass parrakeet (Zo["o]l.), any of several species of
        Australian parrots, of the genus Euphemia; -- also
        applied to the zebra parrakeet.
  
     Grass plover (Zo["o]l.), the upland or field plover.
  
     Grass poly (Bot.), a species of willowwort ({Lythrum
        Hyssopifolia). --Johnson.
  
     Crass quit (Zo["o]l.), one of several tropical American
        finches of the genus Euetheia. The males have most of
        the head and chest black and often marked with yellow.
  
     Grass snake. (Zo["o]l.)
        (a) The common English, or ringed, snake ({Tropidonotus
            natrix).
        (b) The common green snake of the Northern United States.
            See Green snake, under Green.
  
     Grass snipe (Zo["o]l.), the pectoral sandpiper ({Tringa
        maculata); -- called also jacksnipe in America.
  
     Grass spider (Zo["o]l.), a common spider ({Agelena
        n[ae]via), which spins flat webs on grass, conspicuous
        when covered with dew.
  
     Grass sponge (Zo["o]l.), an inferior kind of commercial
        sponge from Florida and the Bahamas.
  
     Grass table. (Arch.) See Earth table, under Earth.
  
     Grass+vetch+(Bot.),+a+vetch+({Lathyrus+Nissolia" rel="nofollow">Grass vetch (Bot.), a vetch ({Lathyrus Nissolia), with
        narrow grasslike leaves.
  
     Grass widow. [Cf. Prov. R. an unmarried mother, G.
        strohwittwe a mock widow, Sw. gr["a]senka a grass widow.]
        (a) An unmarried woman who is a mother. [Obs.]
        (b) A woman separated from her husband by abandonment or
            prolonged absence; a woman living apart from her
            husband. [Slang.]
  
     Grass wrack (Bot.) eelgrass.
  
     To bring to grass (Mining.), to raise, as ore, to the
        surface of the ground.
  
     To put to grass, To put out to grass, to put out to graze
        a season, as cattle.

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