steekgras

noun

steek·​gras

variants or steekgrass

ˈstēkˌgras

plural -es

southern Africa

: a grass of the genus Aristida

Word History

Etymology

Afrikaans steekgras, from steek prick, sting (from Middle Dutch steke) + gras grass, from Middle Dutch; akin to Old English stice stitch and to Old English græs grass

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!