1. (More fully Cocksfoot grass): A well-known strong-growing pasture grass, Dactylis glomerata; so named from the appearance of its large distantly three-branched panicle.
1697. Phil. Trans., XIX. 397. These are six Hairy spiked Cocks-foot-Grasses.
1846. J. Baxter, Libr. Pract. Agric., I. 357. The seed of cock’s-foot is light, and the culms are comparatively succulent at this period of growth.
1883. G. Allen, in Knowledge, 8 June, 337/1. A waving head of cock’s-foot (Dactylis glomerata), which consists of numberless one-sided spikelets, clustered together.
† 2. A name also applied to Columbine, and Greater Celandine. Obs.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, Suppl. Eng. Names, Cockes foote is Columbine. Cocke foote is Chelidonia maior.
b. Applied by Gerarde to Digitaria sanguinalis, also called Cock’s-foot Finger Grass.
1861. Miss Pratt, Flower. Pl., VI. 135. Hairy Finger-grass, or Cock’s-foot Finger-grass.
