Charlocks

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of wild mustard plant known for its bright yellow flowers and bitter taste, often found in fields and along roadsides
2. A flowering plant of the Brassicaceae family, commonly recognized for its distinctive yellow blooms and potential invasiveness in agricultural areas
3. A herbaceous plant that produces small yellow flowers and is often regarded as a weed, frequently growing in disturbed soils and landscapes

Etymology: Charlocks is simply the plural of charlock, a yellow-flowered weed of cultivated fields and disturbed ground. The name goes back to Old English "ċyrlic", "ċirlic" or "ċerlic", which passed into Middle English as "charlok" and "cherlok" before settling into its modern form. Where the Old English word itself came from is unknown, so the plant's name survives as a relic with no traceable root behind it.