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Definition of bristlegrass
bristlegrass
/ˈbrɪs.əlˌɡræs/
bris · tle · grass
Plural:bristlegrasses
bristlegrass Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any of various grasses of the genus Setaria, characterized by dense, bristly flower clusters resembling a fox's tail, often growing as weeds or cultivated for forage and grain.
Example
"The farmer spent the afternoon clearing patches of invasive bristlegrass from the edge of the cornfield."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for bristlegrass• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A compound of 'bristle' and 'grass', referring to the stiff, hair-like bristles that grow around the flower clusters of the plant.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bristlegrass. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bristlegrass