Definition of DARNEL

darnel

Plural: darnels

Noun

  • An annual grass, often considered a weed in grain fields.
  • weedy annual grass often occurs in grainfields and other cultivated land; seeds sometimes considered poisonous
  • A species of ryegrass, Lolium temulentum, often found in wheat fields and often host to a fungus intoxicating to humans and animals.
  • Various species of Lolium, especially as a weed in wheat fields.

Examples

  • Playing the word DARNEL was a small, yet effective, weed in his opponent’s plan.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English darnel, dernel, from Old Northern French darnelle ( > dialectal French dernelle, darnette), of Germanic origin, possibly Proto-West Germanic *darjan (“to harm, injure”).
Related to Walloon darne, derne (“stunned, dazed, drunk”), Middle Dutch verdarnt, verdaernt (“stunned, dumbfounded, angry”). The association with being dazed or drunkenness is due to the well-known intoxicating effects of the plant.

Synonyms

bearded darnel, cheat, Lolium temulentum, tare, poison darnel

Scrabble Score: 7

darnel: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
darnel: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
darnel: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 9

darnel: valid Words With Friends Word