fescue

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noun fes·cue \ ˈfe-(ˌ)skyü \

Definition of fescue

1 :a small pointer (such as a stick) used to point out letters to children learning to read

2 :any of a genus (Festuca) of tufted perennial grasses with panicled spikelets

Recent Examples of fescue from the Web

Digging Deeper Brown patch disease Tall fescue, the best grass choice for most Maryland lawns, resists disease, pests and drought, but brown patch disease can deliver a punch under certain circumstances.

— ellen nibali, baltimoresun.com, "Garden Q&A: Tree damaged by lightning," 18 July 2017
The changing of the greens from fine fescue grass to poa annua is a dramatic adjustment from the original design by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and his team.

— seattle times staff, The Seattle Times, "Chambers Bay greens get a facelift after issues in 2015 U.S. Open," 8 July 2017
However, Kowalewski notes that perennial ryegrass and fescue, the two most common grasses in western Oregon, should not be cut low.

— kym pokorny, OregonLive.com, "How to choose the right lawnmower for you," 24 June 2017
These fescues do no mix well with bluegrass and ryegrass, because of the wider grass blades.

— dick crum, Indianapolis Star, "Dr. Dirt: Warm February caused plants to break dormancy early," 23 June 2017
This weekend the golfer who wins the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills will be the one best able to deal with fate, unpredictable winds, and tall fescue.

— frank fitzpatrick, Philly.com, "The first U.S. Open winner's brush with death | Frank's Place," 17 June 2017
Jason Day also tangled with fierce fescue and had two triple bogeys in his round of 79.

— jay cohen, The Seattle Times, "McIlroy hits it all over the place at US Open," 16 June 2017
His second shot drifted off the fairway, third shot was over the green in the fescue.

— john cherwa, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Cardinal Newman grad Brooks Koepka part of four-way tie for lead midway through U.S. Open," 16 June 2017
On Tuesday, the fescue was cut down to about four inches on four of the holes.

— john cherwa, courant.com, "Pace Of Play A Concern At U.S. Open," 14 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fescue.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of fescue

Middle English festu stalk, straw, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin festucum, from Latin festuca

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First Known Use: 1589

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