canary grass

noun

any of various grasses of the genus Phalaris, as P. canariensis, native to the Canary Islands, bearing seed used as food for cage birds, or P. arundinacea reed canary grass, used throughout the Northern Hemisphere as fodder.

canary grass

noun

any of various grasses of the genus Phalaris, esp P. canariensis, that is native to Europe and N Africa and has straw-coloured seeds used as birdseed
reed canary grass
a related plant, Phalaris arundinacea, used as fodder throughout the N hemisphere

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Word History and Origins

Origin of canary grass¹

First recorded in 1660–70

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Example Sentences

Freed and his team no longer have to hack out the reed canary grass by hand.

From Seattle Times

Cool wind blew through the reed canary grass.

From Seattle Times

It wasn’t long before reed canary grass, an invasive plant species, moved in, choking out native plant species and reducing habitat available to fish.

From Seattle Times

Reed canary grass, a tall, flat-leafed grass, is damaging the state’s wetlands.

From Washington Times

It’s more than 50 percent shelled sunflower seed by volume, with the remainder distributed among millet, corn, canary grass, and some dried fruits and nuts.

From Washington Post

canary creeper Canary Islands

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