horseweed

[ hawrs-weed ]

noun

1. a North American composite weed, weed, Erigeron canadensis, having narrow, hairy leaves and clusters of very small greenish-white flowers.
2. horse balm.
3. any of various other common weeds weed with small yellow flowers.

horseweed

/ ˈhɔːsˌwiːd /

noun

1. the US name for Canadian fleabane See fleabane

Word History and Origins

Origin of horseweed¹

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90; horse + weed ¹

Example Sentences

Unrelenting Roundup use has caused 11 weed species to evolve glyphosate resistance in 26 U.S. states, with Palmer pigweed and horseweed the most widespread, according to the International Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds.

From BusinessWeek

Now, Roundup-resistant weeds like horseweed and giant ragweed are forcing farmers to go back to more expensive techniques that they had long ago abandoned.

From New York Times

And I know that, in the same mood, she dowered the vulgar horseweed with the breath of the mignonette.

From Project Gutenberg