pigweed

[ pig-weed ]

noun

1. any goosefoot of the genus Chenopodium, especially C. album.
2. any of certain amaranths, as Amaranthus retroflexus.

pigweed

/ ˈpɪɡˌwiːd /

noun

1. Also calledredroot any of several coarse North American amaranthaceous weeds of the genus Amaranthus, esp A. retroflexus, having hairy leaves and green flowers
2. a US name for fat hen

Word History and Origins

Origin of pigweed¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; pig ¹ + weed ¹

Example Sentences

He ate dandelion greens, birch bark, pigweed, wild onions, mushrooms, grass seed, watercress.

From Literature

She spots amaranth and caresses the diamond-shaped green leaves, commonly known as pigweed in English.

From Los Angeles Times

But it wasn’t until his father died in 2009 and Nicolet began managing the farm that the pigweeds began to threaten large swaths of his land.

From New York Times

However, farmers who plant dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton say they need the chemical to combat pigweed, which has grown resistant to other herbicides.

From Washington Times

In 2005, a type of pigweed, Palmer amaranth, was found on a farm in Macon County in Georgia that was resistant to glyphosate.

From Salon