sandburrs

/ˈsændbɜrz/
noun
  1. Small, prickly seed pods or burs produced by certain plants, especially those that grow in sandy soil, which stick to clothing or animal fur.
    • The dog came back from the beach covered in sandburrs.
    • Sandburrs can be painful if you step on them with bare feet.
    • After walking through the dunes, we had to pick sandburrs off our socks.
  2. Any of several plants (especially in the genus Cenchrus) that produce these prickly burs, often considered weeds.
    • The farmer sprayed herbicide to control the sandburrs in his pasture.
    • We pulled up the sandburrs before they could spread their seeds.
    • Sandburrs thrive in dry, sandy soil and can take over a lawn quickly.