tumbleweed

English

/ˈtʌmbəlwiːd/, /ˈtʌmbəlˌwid/

noun
Definitions
  • Any plant which habitually break breaks away from its roots in the autumn, and is driven by the wind, as a light, rolling mass, over the fields and prairies; as witch grass, wild indigo, , etc.
  • (attributive) Describing unwanted silence and inactivity. Often used of a situation when one makes a statement that is ignored or ill-received by one's audience, as the resultant silence is likened to that of a desolate desert with rolling tumbleweeds.
  • A tan colour, like that of a tumbleweed.

Etymology

Affix from English tumble + English weed (marijuana).

Origin

English

weed

Gloss

marijuana

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms