Mowburnt

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Describing cut grass or hay that has been scorched, discoloured or spoiled by heat, often from fermenting while stored in a stack
2. Of hay or freshly mown grass that has been damaged by overheating, whether from the sun or from fermentation inside a haystack
3. Referring to cut grass or stored hay that has turned brown, lost its quality and been harmed by excessive heat

Etymology: "Mowburnt" is a plain compound: "mow," the verb for cutting down grass or hay, joined to "burnt," the past participle of "burn." The sense is literal. Grass that has been cut and then left under strong sun, or dried out, can scorch and turn brown, and a lawn damaged this way is described as mowburnt. The useful detail is in the first half. "Mow" is an old English word for cutting grass, and the "burnt" here means browned by heat rather than set on fire. Gardeners and groundskeepers use the term because mowing itself can cause the damage: a blade set too low, or a freshly cut patch exposed to midday sun, leaves the grass tips bleached and scorched.