1777 J. Lightfoot I. 91 [Phleum pratense] Meadow Cat's Tail, or Timothy Grass. Anglis.
1894 23 Apr. 12/3 Although Phleum pratense, long known as meadow catstail, is a native British grass, its cultivation as an agricultural plant was originated last century by Timothy Hanson, an American, after whom the grass got called timothy grass.