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Definition of yellow rattle
yellow rattle
Plural:yellow rattles
yellow rattle Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
10
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A semi-parasitic annual grassland plant of the genus Rhinanthus, native to Europe and North America, characterized by yellow, hooded flowers and dry seed pods that rattle when shaken. It is highly valued in meadow restoration for its ability to extract nutrients from the roots of vigorous grasses, thereby suppressing their growth.
Example
"Conservationists often sow yellow rattle in wild meadows to reduce grass dominance and encourage a greater diversity of native wildflowers."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for yellow rattle• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The common name derives from the plant's bright yellow flowers and the distinctive rattling sound produced by the loose seeds inside its dry, inflated calyxes during late summer.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Yellow rattle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/yellow rattle