Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
canary grass

canary grass

7.9
A grass from the Canary Islands with seeds people use to feed caged birds
  • noun
translation icon : grama canaria
  • Farmers often grow canary grass to harvest its seeds for use in birdseed mixtures.

Examples

  • The pet shop stocks several varieties of canary grass for caged birds.

  • I bought some canary grass for my pet birds.

  • Researchers are studying how canary grass can be used as a sustainable crop.

  • The canary grass thrives in sunny areas.

  • Farmers often grow canary grass to harvest its seeds for use in birdseed mixtures.

  • The pet shop stocks several varieties of canary grass for caged birds.

  • I bought some canary grass for my pet birds.

Synonyms

Phalaris canariensis
vscanary grass
  • Specialized
8.4

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

is native to a specific island group rather than to the wider Mediterranean

Surface Forms

canary grass singular
canary grasses plural

Morphology

canary + grass

The compound is compositional: 'canary' modifies 'grass' to indicate a grass associated with canaries (either the bird or the Canary Islands), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a type of grass related to canaries. The use of the grass as bird seed is a straightforward, predictable extension of that relation and follows common noun–noun compounding patterns.

Etymology

Canary grass gets its name from the 'Canary Islands' where this grass grows, and its seeds were often fed to canaries, the small pet birds. That's why canary grass means a grass grown for 'bird food'.