butterweed

[ buht-er-weed ]

noun

1. any wild plant having conspicuously yellow flowers or leaves.
2. the horseweed.
3. a ragwort ( Senecio jacobaea ) or groundsel ( S. vulgaris ), both having yellow ray flowers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of butterweed¹

First recorded in 1885–90; butter + weed ¹

Example Sentences

The new islands are thick with black willows and, in spring, thigh-high butterweed topped with small yellow flowers.

From Seattle Times

Bunches of butterweed, lanky and yellow, lit up clearings in the late morning sun.

From New York Times

Clumps of alpine grasses dotted with wild blue flax and rich golden butterweed shiver with the breeze sweeping up the canyon.

From Salon