bluegrass
UK[ˈbluːɡrɑːs]US[ˈbluːɡræs]
n
a type of grass with bluish-green stems, often used for lawns and pastures.
n
a style of country music originating in the southern us, characterized by virtuosic playing of banjos, guitars, and fiddles.
Morpheme Breakdown
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Etymology
the term "bluegrass" is a transparent english compound, directly combining the color descriptor "blue" with the plant name "grass." it originally referred literally to certain species of grass in the poa genus, notably kentucky bluegrass, noted for the bluish hue of its stems and seed heads. the name was later transferred metaphorically to a genre of american folk music, which arose in the 1940s. this musical association derives from the "bluegrass region" of kentucky, famed for its pastures of such grass, and most directly from the name of bill monroe's band, the "blue grass boys," thus anchoring the style in a specific cultural and geographical identity.
Analysis
Structure: blue + grass
blue (from old english 'blāw', meaning the color blue; descriptive adjective). grass (from old english 'græs', meaning herbage, plant; noun root).
Examples
the field was covered in lush bluegrass, perfect for grazing horses.
bluegrass music features fast tempos and intricate instrumental solos.
every summer, they attend a bluegrass festival in the appalachians.