beggar's-lice

noun

beg·​gar's-lice ˈbe-gərz-ˌlīs 

variants or beggar-lice

ˈbe-gər-ˌlīs 

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

: any of various plants (as of the genera Hackelia and Cynoglossum of the borage family) with prickly or adhesive fruits

also : one of these fruits

Word History

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above