kangaroo paw
- noun
- Australian
- In Australia, the kangaroo paw is popular among gardeners for its striking appearance.
Examples
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She admired the kangaroo paw, noting its long leaves and colorful, fuzzy blooms.
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"Some of the Australian imports, like kangaroo paw, were easy to propagate."
Academic text (1994) -
Using tissue culture, Griesbach developed and Roh tested two kangaroo paw hybrids.
Academic text (1994) -
The garden was vibrant with kangaroo paw, showcasing its unique tubular flowers.
Synonyms
An Australian plant with soft, tube-shaped flowers often grown in gardens
A plant from Australia with long grasslike leaves and fuzzy flower clusters
An Australian plant with fuzzy spring flowers shaped like a kangaroo's foot
An Australian plant that flowers in spring and has clumps of red and green furry flowers
A group of Australian plants with woolly flowers on tall stems like kangaroo's paw
A grasslike plant from Australia that flowers in spring with clusters of woolly flowers
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is compositionally derived from 'kangaroo' + 'paw' and denotes something that resembles a kangaroo's paw; this descriptive naming pattern (objects or plants named for shape) is predictable. A B1 learner who knows both constituent words can infer it refers to an item — here a plant — characterized by a paw-like appearance, so the meaning is transparent.
Etymology
Kangaroo paw is the name of an Australian flower. The plant's long, furry tubes look like a kangaroo's paw, so the name now means 'a plant'.