lamb's-quarters
Definition
Noun: * A common, fast-growing, weedy plant (Chenopodium album) with diamond-shaped or triangular leaves that are often coated with a white, mealy substance. It is native to Europe but has become widespread in North America and other regions. The young leaves and shoots are edible and have historically been used as a leafy green vegetable, similar to spinach.
Usage
- As a common name for a plant: The term "lamb's-quarters" is used to identify this specific edible weed.
- The garden was full of lamb's-quarters, so we decided to harvest some for dinner.
- Foragers often seek out lamb's-quarters in the spring when the leaves are most tender.
Advanced Usage
- Culinary and Historical Context: The name is often used in discussions of foraging, wild edible plants, and historical food sources. It is sometimes called "wild spinach" or "goosefoot" due to the shape of its leaves.
- Pioneers relied on plants like lamb's-quarters to supplement their diets.
Variants and Related Words
- Goosefoot: A common name for plants in the genus , referring to the shape of the leaves. Lamb's-quarters is a specific type of goosefoot.
- Fat-hen: Another common name for the same plant (), used primarily in the UK.
- Pigweed: A name sometimes used for lamb's-quarters, though it can also refer to other weedy plants in the amaranth family, leading to potential confusion.
Synonyms
- Wild spinach: A descriptive synonym highlighting its culinary use.
- White goosefoot: A name referring to the species (), with "album" meaning white in Latin, describing the powdery coating on the leaves.
Related Phrases/Idioms
- None directly associated: "Lamb's-quarters" is a specific botanical name and is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions or phrasal verbs.
Noun
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common weedy European plant introduced into North America; often used as a potherb
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