monkey grass

noun

plural monkey grasses

1

: liriope

Often referred to as monkey grass, liriope is a favorite edging plant specimen used around sidewalks and flowerbeds. … A great way to revitalize your monkey grass is to cut it with a lawn mower.

—Chance McDavid

2

or less commonly monkeygrass

ˈməŋ-kē-ˌgras 

plural monkeygrasses : mondo grass

If you want a grass look-alike beneath these crape myrtles, regular mondo grass (monkey grass) would be your best bet. You don't mow it, however. It's a shade-tolerant ground cover, not a turfgrass.

—Neil Sperry

Word History

Etymology

Note: The reason for the name is unclear.

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for monkey grass

• fiberglass
• fibreglass
• hourglass
• isinglass
• lemongrass
• martinmas
• orchardgrass
• overpass
• plexiglas
• plexiglass
• sassafras
• superclass