alfilaria

[ al-fil-uh-ree-uh ]

noun

1. a European plant, Erodium cicutarium, of the geranium family, grown for forage in the U.S.

alfilaria

/ ˌælfɪˈlɛərɪə /

noun

1. a geraniaceous plant, Erodium cicutarium, native to Europe, with finely divided leaves and small pink or purplish flowers. It is widely naturalized in North America and is used as fodder Also calledpin clover

Word History and Origins

Origin of alfilaria¹

1865–70, Americanism; < Spanish alfilerillo, equivalent to alfiler pin (< Arabic al-khilāl the pin) + -illo diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of alfilaria¹

via American Spanish from Spanish alfilerillo, from alfiler pin, from Arabic al-khilāl the thorn

Example Sentences

In winter, the ground was thickly covered with burr-clover and the poetically-named alfilaria.

From Project Gutenberg

There had been many winter snows and spring rains, so that the alfilaria covered the hills with a carpet of grass.

From Project Gutenberg

The Geranium, like the Alfilaria, has a fruit resembling the long beak of the crane or stork.

From Project Gutenberg

The cow was mooing reproachfully in a cropped circle of musky alfilaria behind the shed.

From Project Gutenberg