grass
grass herbage for fodder OE.; grassy earth XIII; pasture XV; non-cereal gramineous plant XVI. OE. græs, gærs = OS. (Du.), (O)HG., ON., Goth. gras :- Gmc. *ʒrasam, f. *ʒra- *ʒrō- (see GROW).
So grasshopper XV. Extended form of †grasshop, OE. gærshoppa (f. gærs + hoppa, agent-noun of hoppian HOP1). grass widow †unmarried woman who has cohabited XVI; married woman away from her husband XIX (first in India). The first el. may have alluded orig. to a bed of grass or hay. grassy XVI.
So grasshopper XV. Extended form of †grasshop, OE. gærshoppa (f. gærs + hoppa, agent-noun of hoppian HOP1). grass widow †unmarried woman who has cohabited XVI; married woman away from her husband XIX (first in India). The first el. may have alluded orig. to a bed of grass or hay. grassy XVI.
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