Adjacent Words

Darnel definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

D'ARNEL, n. A plant of the genus Lolium, a kind of grass; the most remarkable species are the red darnel or rye-grass, and the white darnel.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: weedy annual grass often occurs in grainfields and other cultivated land; seeds sometimes considered poisonous [syn: darnel, tare, bearded darnel, cheat, Lolium temulentum]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English Date: 14th century any of several usually weedy ryegrasses (genus Lolium)

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. any of several grasses of the genus Lolium, growing as weeds among cereal crops. Etymology: ME: cf. Walloon darnelle

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Darnel Dar"nel, n. [OE. darnel, dernel, of uncertain origin; cf. dial. F. darnelle, Sw. d[*a]r-repe; perh. named from a supposed intoxicating quality of the plant, and akin to Sw. d[*a]ra to infatuate, OD. door foolish, G. thor fool, and Ee. dizzy.] (Bot.) Any grass of the genus Lolium, esp. the Lolium temulentum (bearded darnel), the grains of which have been reputed poisonous. Other species, as Lolium perenne (rye grass or ray grass), and its variety L. Italicum (Italian rye grass), are highly esteemed for pasture and for making hay. Note: Under darnel our early herbalists comprehended all kinds of cornfield weeds. --Dr. Prior.