Definition

Noun 1. A type of grass: A European grass (Elymus repens, formerly Agropyron repens) known for spreading quickly through its creeping underground stems (rhizomes). It is considered an invasive weed in many areas, including North America.

Usage

• This term is primarily used in botanical and agricultural contexts to identify a specific, often problematic, plant species.
• It functions as a compound noun where "dog" is used attributively to modify "grass," indicating a specific kind. The meaning is not literal (it is not grass for dogs).

Examples

• The farmer worked to eradicate the dog grass that was invading his wheat field.
• Dog grass can be difficult to control because its rhizomes break apart easily.
• This section of the lawn is mostly dog grass.

Advanced Usage

• The term is a common name for the species . In more formal or scientific writing, the Latin binomial is preferred to avoid ambiguity.
• It is also known by other common names, such as couch grass or quackgrass.

Variants and Related Words

• Couch grass: A more common synonym for the same plant species, especially in British English.
• Quackgrass: Another widely used common name in North America.
• Rhizome: The creeping underground stem that characterizes how this grass spreads.

Synonyms

• Couch grass
• Quackgrass
• Twitch grass
• (scientific name)

Notes on Meaning

• The "dog" in "dog grass" is pejorative, implying the plant is troublesome, common, or worthless, similar to its use in terms like "dog-tired." It does not relate to the animal.
• Its primary meaning is as the name for a specific weed. It is not typically used in idioms or phrasal verbs.

Noun

1. European grass spreading rapidly by creeping rhizomes; naturalized in North America as a weed