king devil

noun

any of several European hawkweeds introduced into northeastern North America, where they are troublesome weeds.

First recorded in 1890–95

A king-devil, come fresh out of hell, could scarcely have looked more terrible.

He wondered if perhaps King Devil had not bounced him up more than people realized.

Each has a king-devil or arch-demon with a posse of subalterns or evil spirits.

He is the king-devil, and much the Commandant wants to cage him.

April 18, 2024petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

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