Sandburrs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of prickly seed or fruit from certain plants that can cling to clothing or fur
2. A category of sharp, bur-like structures produced by some weeds that can cause discomfort when touched
3. A common term for the spiky pods or burs that detach from weedy plants and attach to surfaces while spreading seeds

Etymology: Sandburr is a plural noun, so "sandburrs" is the plural of "sandbur", a compound of "sand" and "bur". The second part, "bur" (also spelled "burr"), comes from Middle English "burre", probably from Old Norse "kló" or related Scandinavian forms, and was used for prickly seed cases and the rough clinging burrs of plants. The "sand" element refers to the plants' habitat: many of the weeds that bear these spiky seed heads, such as the sandbur grasses (genus Cenchrus), grow in sandy soils, especially along beaches, dunes and dry fields.