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Glite Dictionary
hawk's-beard

hawk's-beard

9.9
A wild plant with small yellow flowers like a dandelion
  • noun
  • /hɔks bɪrd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : crepis
  • Gardeners often mistake hawk's-beard for dandelion because of its similar yellow flowers.

Examples

  • The meadow was dotted with bright hawk's-beards swaying in the breeze.

  • Several species of hawk's-beard thrive in the temperate climates of northern Europe.

  • The hawk's-beard blooms beautifully in the spring.

  • I saw a hawk's-beard growing near the river.

  • Many gardeners are delighted to find hawk's-beard blooming in their yards during the summer.

  • The botanical garden features several varieties of hawk's-beard that attract local pollinators.

  • In the wildflower field, hawk's-beard adds a splash of yellow among the green grass.

Synonyms

Crepis
vshawk's-beard
  • Specialized
9.9

A small wild plant with yellow, dandelion-like flowers called hawk's-beard

is the common everyday name used for the same plants

Surface Forms

hawk's-beard singular
hawk's-beards plural

Morphology

hawk's-beard = hawk + beard (semi-transparent) = hawk + beard

The components 'hawk' and 'beard' are semantically clear, but the compound is a conventional plant name whose specific referent (a Crepis species) is not predictable from the parts alone.

Etymology

The word hawk's-beard comes from the parts hawk and beard and likely refers to the plant's fluffy seed heads that look like a bird's small 'beard'. So, thinking of a yellow wildflower with little 'beards' helps you remember that hawk's-beard is a common plant with bright yellow flowers and fluffy seeds.