root weedn.
/ˈruːt wiːd/, U.S. /ˈrut ˌwid/, /ˈrʊt ˌwid/ A weed which propagates itself chiefly by means of roots, as distinguished from one which originates from seed.
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the world > plants > valued plants and weeds > [noun] > weed > according to type of propagation
root weed1683
seed weed1762
1683 J. Reid Scots Gard'ner i. vi. vi. 28 To lay gravel, cleanse first the bottomes of the walkes of fat Earth, and Root-weeds, and bottom it with Stones.
1765 A. Dickson Treat. Agric. (ed. 2) II. 270 To increase the food of plants, and destroy root-weeds.
1784 W. Marshall Minutes in Rural Econ. Midland Counties (1790) II. 43 Extirpating the roots of twitch and other root weeds.
1838 W. L. Rham Outl. Flemish Husbandry xvi. 71 in Brit. Husbandry (Libr. Useful Knowl.) (1840) III The root-weeds are necessarily cleaned out in the spreading.
1939 Times 9 Oct. 4/3 Unless the soil has been cultivated as a garden for many years there are sure to be many root weeds which should be picked out.
2004 S. Dabbert et al. Org. Farming ii. 32 The most urgent research priorities voiced by advisers related to specific practical problems, such as combating root weeds or potato blight.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1683