Meadow \Mead"ow\, n. [AS. meady; akin to m[=ae]d, and to G.
   matte; prob. also to E. mow. See {Mow} to cut (grass), and
   cf. 2d {Mead}.]
   1. A tract of low or level land producing grass which is mown
      for hay; any field on which grass is grown for hay.
      
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   2. Low land covered with coarse grass or rank herbage near
      rives and in marshy places by the sea; as, the salt
      meadows near Newark Bay.
      
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Meadow \Mead"ow\, a.
   Of or pertaining to a meadow; of the nature of a meadow;
   produced, growing, or living in, a meadow. "Fat meadow
   ground." --Milton.
   
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   Note: For many names of plants compounded with meadow, see
         the particular word in the Vocabulary.
         
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   {Meadow beauty}. (Bot.) Same as {Deergrass}.

   {Meadow foxtail} (Bot.), a valuable pasture grass
      ({Alopecurus pratensis}) resembling timothy, but with
      softer spikes.

   {Meadow hay}, a coarse grass, or true sedge, growing in
      uncultivated swamp or river meadow; -- used as fodder or
      bedding for cattle, packing for ice, etc. [Local, U. S.]
      

   {Meadow hen}. (Zool.)
   (a) The American bittern. See {Stake-driver}.
   (b) The American coot ({Fulica}).
   (c) The clapper rail.

   {Meadow mouse} (Zool.), any mouse of the genus {Arvicola}, as
      the common American species {Arvicola riparia}; -- called
      also {field mouse}, and {field vole}.

   {Meadow mussel} (Zool.), an American ribbed mussel ({Modiola  plicatula}), very abundant in salt marshes.

   {Meadow ore} (Min.), bog-iron ore, a kind of limonite.

   {Meadow parsnip}. (Bot.) See under {Parsnip}.

   {Meadow pink}. (Bot.) See under {Pink}.

   {Meadow pipit} (Zool.), a small singing bird of the genus
      {Anthus}, as {Anthus pratensis}, of Europe.

   {Meadow rue} (Bot.), a delicate early plant, of the genus
      {Thalictrum}, having compound leaves and numerous white
      flowers. There are many species.

   {Meadow saffron}. (Bot.) See under {Saffron}.

   {Meadow sage}. (Bot.) See under {Sage}.

   {Meadow saxifrage} (Bot.), an umbelliferous plant of Europe
      ({Silaus pratensis}), somewhat resembling fennel.

   {Meadow snipe} (Zool.), the common or jack snipe.
      
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 meadowgrass