locoweed
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A common name for marijuana: A slang term used as a street name for the psychoactive drug cannabis. 2. A type of poisonous plant: Any of several leguminous plants (genus Astragalus or Oxytropis) found in western North America. When ingested by livestock, these plants cause a neurological disease known as locoism, characterized by erratic behavior, weight loss, and potentially death.
Usage Examples
- As a slang term for marijuana:
- The undercover officer heard the dealers referring to the substance as "locoweed".
- Some old slang terms for cannabis, like "locoweed", are less common today.
- As a poisonous plant:
- The rancher had to fence off the pasture where the locoweed was growing.
- Ingesting locoweed can cause severe neurological damage to horses and cattle.
Advanced Usage
- The term's primary technical and agricultural meaning refers to the toxic plants affecting livestock. Its use as slang for marijuana is informal and derives from the perceived "crazy" or intoxicating effects, drawing a parallel to the symptoms of locoism in animals.
- The disease caused by these plants is specifically called "locoism" or "loco disease".
Variants and Related Words
- Locoism (n): The disease of livestock caused by eating locoweed.
- Locoweed is a compound word from Spanish "" (meaning "crazy") and "weed".
Synonyms
- For the slang term: marijuana, cannabis, pot, grass, weed.
- For the poisonous plant: poison vetch, crazy weed (another common name based on its effects).
Notes on Different Meanings
The two meanings of "locoweed" belong to entirely different registers and contexts: 1. The slang/drug meaning is informal, colloquial, and used in specific subcultures. 2. The botanical/agricultural meaning is a standard term in ranching, veterinary science, and botany for a specific group of toxic plants. This is the principal dictionary definition.
Noun
- street names for marijuana
- any of several leguminous plants of western North America causing locoism in livestock