birdseed grass

7.1

A grass whose seeds are used to feed pet birds like canaries

noun

: grama canaria

We planted birdseed grass in the garden to feed the finches.

Examples

The pet store stocks several varieties of birdseed grass for exotic birds.
After harvesting, the farmer sold bags of birdseed grass seeds to local bird owners.
The birdseed grass is essential for my canaries.
Many pet stores sell birdseed grasses for various birds.
The pet store stocks several varieties of birdseed grass for exotic birds.
We planted birdseed grass in the garden to feed the finches.
After harvesting, the farmer sold bags of birdseed grass seeds to local bird owners.

Synonyms

Phalaris canariensis

vsbirdseed grass

Specialized

8.4

A grass from the Mediterranean grown for seeds that feed pet birds

is the common everyday term rather than the scientific name

canary grass

vsbirdseed grass

7.9

A grass from the Canary Islands with seeds people use to feed caged birds

is the general category of such seed producing grasses rather than one specific native species

Surface Forms

birdseed grass singular

birdseed grasses plural

Morphology

birdseed + grass

The meaning 'a type of grass whose seeds are used as food for birds' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'birdseed' (seed mix for birds) with 'grass' (a narrow-leaved plant). This noun+noun compound straightforwardly denotes a grass associated with birdseed and follows common compounding patterns found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would likely infer the meaning.

Etymology

Birdseed grass comes from the simple picture of birdseed made by grass: people gather the tiny seeds of some grasses to feed pet and wild birds. So, the term means 'a grass grown for bird food'.