sandbur

or sand·burr

[ sand-bur ]

noun
  1. any of various grasses of the genus Cenchrus, having spikelets enclosed in prickly burs.

  2. any of several bur-bearing weeds growing in sandy places, as Franseria acanthicarpa or Solanum rostratum, of the western U.S.

Origin of sandbur

1
An Americanism dating back to 1820–30; sand + bur1

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024