cocklebur

cocklebur — noun

1. a rough wild plant in the Xanthium plant group that grows seed cases covered in

1.nounC2
Definition

a rough wild plant in the Xanthium plant group that grows seed cases covered in stiff hooked spines, which catch on animal fur and clothing.

Example

Hui pulled three sharp cocklebur seeds out of her wool socks after the hike.

burrs sticking to clothing after walking through wild plants

The farmer cleared a patch of cocklebur from the edge of the cattle field.

cocklebur as an unwanted weed near farmland

Common collocations
  • a patch of cocklebur
  • cocklebur seeds
  • cocklebur burrs
Synonyms
  • burweed

    another common name for the same Xanthium plant

  • clotbur

    older or regional name for the cocklebur

Usage Note

Almost always refers to the plant or its hooked seed case; the burrs are what most people notice, so the word often appears with verbs like 'pull out', 'cling', or 'catch on'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Cocklebur, burdock, and thistle are all rough wild plants that prick or cling, but they are not the same. Cocklebur (genus Xanthium) is known for its small egg-shaped seed cases covered in hooked spines that grab onto fur and clothes. Burdock (genus Arctium) also makes clinging burrs, but its plant is larger with broad leaves, and its root is sometimes eaten as a vegetable. Thistle is a different plant again: it has sharp spines along its stem and leaves and a purple flower head, and it stings the hand rather than sticking to it. So if a seed sticks to your sock, it is usually a cocklebur or a burdock; if a leaf pricks your finger, it is more likely a thistle.

cocklebur ↗burdockthistle

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word joins 'cockle', an old name for a troublesome weed found in grain fields, with 'bur' (also spelled 'burr'), the prickly seed case of a plant. Put together, the name simply marks it as a weedy plant whose seeds are covered in hooks. English speakers have used the combined form since the 1500s.

First known use

1804

1804, in the meaning defined above