fescue

 
Pronunciation: /ˈfɛskjuː/

noun

  • any of a number of narrow-leaved grasses:
    • a perennial grass that is a valuable pasture and fodder species (genus Festuca, family Gramineae). an annual grass that typically occurs on drier soils such as on dunes and heathland (genus Vulpia, family Gramineae).

Origin:

Middle English festu, festue 'straw, twig', from Old French festu, based on Latin festuca 'stalk, straw'. The change of -t- to -c- occurred in the 16th century; the current sense dates from the mid 18th century