In 1884, Angelo Moriondo of Turin, Italy, demonstrated the first working example of an espresso machine.
KNOTGRASS
knotgrass, Paspalum distichum
(noun) low-growing weedy grass with spikelets along the leaf stems
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
knotgrass (countable and uncountable, plural knotgrasses)
An annual plant, Polygonum aviculare, found in fields and wasteland.
Paspalum distichum, a weedy perennial grass of wet areas.
Synonym: water couch
Source: Wiktionary
Knot"grass`, n. (Bot.) (a) a common weed with jointed stems (Polygonum aviculare); knotweed. (b) The dog grass. See under Dog.
Note: An infusion of Polygonum aviculare was once supposed to have the effect of stopping the growth of an animal, and hence it was called, as by Shakespeare, "hindering knotgrass." We want a boy extremely for this function, Kept under for a year with milk and knotgrass. Beau. & Fl.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
4 June 2025
LEND
(verb) bestow a quality on; “Her presence lends a certain cachet to the company”; “The music added a lot to the play”; “She brings a special atmosphere to our meetings”; “This adds a light note to the program”
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