crab grass

noun

1. an annual grass, Digitaria sanguinalis, common in cultivated and waste grounds and often occurring as a pest weed in lawns.

crab grass

noun

1. any of several coarse weedy grasses of the genus Digitaria, which grow in warm regions and tend to displace other grasses in lawns

Word History and Origins

Origin of crab grass¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

Then he cut long blades of tough crab grass, and sat cross-legged on the ground tearing the grass lengthwise so that each blade became many strands.

From Literature

On a cool and sunny day recently, the tree stood, as it has for decades as a fixture in the neighborhood, surrounded by crab grass and rose and hibiscus bushes.

From New York Times

As a general rule, summer stagings of “Godspell,” a favorite of church and school theaters, are as common as crab grass.

From New York Times

Boiling water or full-strength white vinegar can kill the leaves and stems of most tender green weeds, such as spotted spurge, crab grass, sow thistle and prickly lettuce — especially when they’re young.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, the problem — or at least the perception of anti-Semitism festering in the party’s ranks — is as persistent as crab grass.

From New York Times