nimblewill

1 9.9

A thin grass from the central United States with fine stems that cattle sometimes eat

noun
/ˈnɪmbəlˌwɪl/

Specialized

: nimblewill

The pasture was filled with nimblewill and other native grasses.

Examples

Some farmers allow cattle to graze on nimblewill when better forage is scarce.
Identifying nimblewill can be challenging due to its fine, wiry stems.
The nimblewill grows abundantly in the Midwest.
Farmers often use nimblewill for grazing their livestock.
Some farmers allow cattle to graze on nimblewill when better forage is scarce.
The pasture was filled with nimblewill and other native grasses.
Identifying nimblewill can be challenging due to its fine, wiry stems.

Synonyms

Muhlenbergia schreberi

vsnimblewill

Specialized

9.9

A thin grass with many stems that grows in the central United States and feeds grazing animals

has identical meaning but is the common name rather than the scientific name

Surface Forms

nimblewill singular

nimblewills plural

Morphology

nimblewill = nimble + will (opaque) = nimble + will

Although formed from the words 'nimble' and 'will', the compound is a folk name for a grass and its meaning 'a type of grass' cannot be deduced from the components by an average learner.

Etymology

A helpful way to remember nimblewill is to see it as nimble ('quick' or 'flexible') plus will, which may be just an old name ending for grasses. So the name brings to mind a thin, bendy grass with fine, wiry stems that move easily, which fits this slender American grass sometimes used for grazing.