common scurvy grass

8.7

A small plant with edible leaves high in vitamin C that sailors used to prevent scurvy

noun

: berro común

Sailors used common scurvy grass during long voyages to prevent vitamin C deficiency.

Examples

Historians note that common scurvy grass was once vital for treating scurvy in Arctic explorers.
The leaves of common scurvy grass have a sharp, peppery flavor and are edible.
The common scurvy grass is rich in vitamin C.
Have you ever tried common scurvy grass?
Sailors used common scurvy grass during long voyages to prevent vitamin C deficiency.
Historians note that common scurvy grass was once vital for treating scurvy in Arctic explorers.
The leaves of common scurvy grass have a sharp, peppery flavor and are edible.

Synonyms

Cochlearia officinalis

vscommon scurvy grass

Specialized

9.9

A small coastal plant called scurvy-grass that contains vitamin C and helps prevent scurvy

is the ordinary everyday name used in informal contexts

scurvy grass

vscommon scurvy grass

Archaic

9.9

A small coastal plant with yellow flowers high in vitamin C

is the specific species rather than a broader family or regional label

Surface Forms

common scurvy grass singular

common scurvy grasses plural

Morphology

common + scurvy + grass

The phrase is compositionally built: 'scurvy' (the illness) modifies 'grass' (a plant), so a learner who knows both words can infer it is a plant associated with scurvy (i.e., rich in vitamin C) and 'common' simply marks it as a typical variety. This relation is literal and predictable across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would grasp the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Common scurvy grass is a small coastal plant that sailors and Arctic explorers ate because it had lots of vitamin C. People named it scurvy grass because eating its leaves helped 'prevent scurvy' on long voyages, so the name stuck.