locoweed

[ loh-koh-weed ]

noun

1. any of various leguminous plants of the genera Astragalus and Oxytropis, of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, causing locoism in sheep, horses, etc.

locoweed

/ ˈləʊkəʊˌwiːd /

noun

1. any of several perennial leguminous plants of the genera Oxytropis and Astragalus of W North America that cause loco disease in horses, cattle, and sheep

Word History and Origins

Origin of locoweed¹

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80; loco + weed ¹

Example Sentences

West Texas has rigid paintbrush, yellow rocknettle and the purple wooly locoweed.

From Washington Times

He made an altar with cactus spines and purple locoweed flowers.

From Literature

Jimsonweed, a k a Jamestown weed, mad apple, devil’s trumpet, locoweed, stinkwort or thorn apple, is a strikingly gothic-looking plant with seedpods that could have inspired the creator of “Little Shop of Horrors.”

From New York Times

Doc Peets informs me once when we crosses up with some locoweed over by the Cow Springs, that thar's two or three breeds of this malignant vegetable.

From Project Gutenberg

Why, son," he continued, "every longhorn who's ever cinched a Colorado saddle, or roped a steer, is plumb aware of locoweed.

From Project Gutenberg