pigweed
pigweed Lexical Profile
pigweed Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of various weedy plants, especially those of the genus Amaranthus, characterized by coarse leaves and small, densely clustered green flowers, historically utilized as forage for swine.
"The farmer spent the afternoon clearing pigweed from the vegetable garden to prevent it from choking out the tomatoes."
A plant of the genus Chenopodium, such as lamb's quarters, often found growing prolifically in cultivated or disturbed soil.
"While considered a nuisance by some agricultural workers, certain species of pigweed are completely edible and can be cooked much like spinach."
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in English in the early 17th century as a compound of 'pig' and 'weed', so named because the coarse plants were commonly fed to or foraged by swine.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.