noun
tall perennial grass that spreads by creeping rhizomes and is grown for fodder; naturalized in southern United States where it is a serious pest on cultivated land
• Syn: ↑Aleppo grass, ↑means grass, ↑evergreen millet, ↑Sorghum halepense
• Hypernyms: ↑sorghum
* * *
nounUsage: usually capitalized J
Etymology: after William Johnston died 1859 American farmer
: a tall perennial sorghum (Sorghum halepense) that spreads by scaly creeping rhizomes, has been widely introduced as a hay and forage grass, and has become naturalized in many warm regions (as the southern United States) where it is a serious pest on cultivated land
* * *
a sorghum, Sorghum halepense, that spreads by creeping rhizomes, grown for fodder. Also called Aleppo grass, Means grass.
[1880-85, Amer.; named after William Johnson, American agriculturist who first planted it in 1840]
Useful english dictionary. 2012.