pineappleweed
|pine-ap-ple-weed|
/ˈpaɪnˌæpəlwiːd/
small pineapple-scented wildflower
Etymology
'pineappleweed' originates from English, specifically a compound of 'pineapple' + 'weed', where 'pineapple' referred to the tropical fruit (the English word 'pineapple' originally combined 'pine' + 'apple' by resemblance) and 'weed' comes from Old English 'wēod' meaning 'plant' or 'herb'.
'pineapple' in Early Modern English (16th century) initially referred to a 'pine cone' but later came to denote the tropical fruit after its introduction to Europe; 'weed' derives from Old English 'wēod'. The modern compound 'pineappleweed' was coined in English as a common name for Matricaria discoidea because of its pineapple-like scent.
The compound originally described any weed with a pineapple-like smell; over time it has come to refer specifically to the species Matricaria discoidea (a pineapple-scented wild chamomile).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a low-growing wildflower (Matricaria discoidea) in the aster family with small yellow-green, button-like flowers that smell faintly of pineapple; sometimes used as a mild herbal tea or chamomile substitute.
Pineappleweed grows along trails and in disturbed soil and smells faintly of pineapple when crushed.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/11 23:53