Phrase guide

beggar's ticks

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The bur marigold (Bidens spp.) and its achenes, which are armed with barbed awns that adhere to clothing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the notion of a beggar sleeping rough and acquiring a coating of the seeds, which stick to the body like ticks. Compare beggar's lice, beggar's buttons.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Aukan: gengi — plant of the genus Bidens
  • Finnish: rusokki — plant of the genus Bidens
  • French: bident — plant of the genus Bidens
  • German: Zweizahn — plant of the genus Bidens
  • Ingrian: cereda — plant of the genus Bidens
  • Kikuyu: mũcege — plant of the genus Bidens
  • Lokono: tebeyu — plant of the genus Bidens
  • Polish: uczep — plant of the genus Bidens
  • Russian: череда́ (čeredá) — plant of the genus Bidens
  • Saramaccan: kimanamana — plant of the genus Bidens
  • Saramaccan: pítí uwíi — plant of the genus Bidens
  • Sranan Tongo: yampaneisitoriman — plant of the genus Bidens
  • Sranan Tongo: toriman — plant of the genus Bidens
  • Sranan Tongo: yesusmaka — plant of the genus Bidens
  • Trió: wedakalu atupelu — plant of the genus Bidens
  • Wayana: upe — plant of the genus Bidens
  • Welsh: graban — plant of the genus Bidens