cordgrass

The word "cordgrass" is a transparent English compound formed from two native elements. The first element, "cord," traces back to Latin chorda, meaning a string or gut, which entered English via French. In this botanical context, it is used descriptively to denote the plant's characteristic tough, cord-like stems or leaves. The second element, "grass," is a fundamental and ancient Germanic word, from Old English græs, referring to the general category of plants. The compound thus literally means "cord-like grass," a name directly reflecting the plant's most observable physical property as perceived by English speakers.

Structure: cord + grass - cord: From Latin chorda (string, cord of a musical instrument). In this compound, it refers to the cord-like or tough, stringy quality of the plant. - grass: From Old English græs (herb, plant, grass). Denotes the type of plant.