goatsbeard
goatsbeard Lexical Profile
goatsbeard Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of several woodland perennial flowering plants of the genus Aruncus in the rose family (Rosaceae), native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and cultivated for their large, feathery plumes of tiny creamy-white blossoms that resemble a goat's beard.
"The shaded border at the back of the garden was brightened by tall, feathery plumes of white goatsbeard blooming in early summer."
Any of various biennial or perennial herbs of the genus Tragopogon in the daisy family (Asteraceae), native to Eurasia and naturalized in North America, bearing grass-like leaves, yellow or purple dandelion-like flower heads, and large, silky, spherical seed heads.
"Along the sunny roadside, the yellow blossoms of wild goatsbeard had already closed by midday and begun forming wispy seed globes."
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed as an English compound of 'goat' and 'beard', translating the Greek botanical name 'tragopogon' (from 'tragos', meaning he-goat, and 'pogon', meaning beard), in reference to the wispy, beard-like plumes of the plant's seed heads or flower clusters.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.