cottonweed

[ kot-n-weed ]

noun

1. any of various plants having stems and leaves covered with a soft, hoary pubescence.

cottonweed

/ ˈkɒtənˌwiːd /

noun

1. a downy perennial plant, Otanthus maritimus, of European coastal regions, having small yellow flowers surrounded by large hairy bracts: family Asteraceae (composites)
2. any of various similar plants

Word History and Origins

Origin of cottonweed¹

First recorded in 1555–65; cotton + weed ¹

Example Sentences

Going two miles this morning, we came to a little stream called the Little Cottonweed.

From Project Gutenberg

Pearly, or Large-flowered, Everlasting; Immortelle, Silver Leaf; Moonshine; Cottonweed; None-so-pretty Anaphalis margaritacea Flower-heads—Numerous pearly-white scales of the involucre holding tubular florets only; borne in broad, rather flat, compound corymbs at the summit.

From Project Gutenberg