Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Meadow?

\Mead"ow\, n. [AS. meady; akin to m[=ae]d, and to G. matte; prob. also to E. mow. See {Mow} to cut (grass), and cf. 2d {Mead}.] 1. A tract of low or level land producing grass which is mown for hay; any field on which grass is grown for hay. 2. Low land covered with coarse grass or rank herbage near rives and in marshy places by the sea; as, the salt meadows near Newark Bay.
\Mead"ow\, a. Of or pertaining to a meadow; of the nature of a meadow; produced, growing, or living in, a meadow. ``Fat meadow ground.'' --Milton. Note: For many names of plants compounded with meadow, see the particular word in the Vocabulary. {Meadow beauty}. (Bot.) Same as {Deergrass}. {Meadow foxtail} (Bot.), a valuable pasture grass ({Alopecurus pratensis}) resembling timothy, but with softer spikes. {Meadow grass} (Bot.), a name given to several grasses of the genus {Poa}, common in meadows, and of great value for nay and for pasture. See {Grass}. {Meadow hay}, a coarse grass, or true sedge, growing in uncultivated swamp or river meadow; -- used as fodder or bedding for cattle, packing for ice, etc. [Local, U. S.] {Meadow hen}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The American bittern. See {Stake-driver}. (b) The American coot ({Fulica}). (c) The clapper rail. {Meadow lark} (Zo["o]l.), any species of {Sturnella}, a genus of American birds allied to the starlings. The common species ({S. magna}) has a yellow breast with a black crescent. {Meadow mouse} (Zo["o]l.), any mouse of the genus {Arvicola}, as the common American species {A. riparia}; -- called also {field mouse}, and {field vole}. {Meadow mussel} (Zo["o]l.), an American ribbed mussel ({Modiola plicatula}), very abundant in salt marshes. {Meadow ore} (Min.), bog-iron ore, a kind of limonite. {Meadow parsnip}. (Bot.) See under {Parsnip}. {Meadow pink}. (Bot.) See under {Pink}. {Meadow pipit} (Zo["o]l.), a small singing bird of the genus {Anthus}, as {A. pratensis}, of Europe. {Meadow rue} (Bot.), a delicate early plant, of the genus {Thalictrum}, having compound leaves and numerous white flowers. There are many species. {Meadow saffron}. (Bot.) See under {Saffron}. {Meadow sage}. (Bot.) See under {Sage}. {Meadow saxifrage} (Bot.), an umbelliferous plant of Europe ({Silaus pratensis}), somewhat resembling fennel. {Meadow snipe} (Zo["o]l.), the common or jack snipe.