Marsh \Marsh\, n. [OE. mersch, AS. mersc, fr. mere lake. See
Mere pool, and cf. Marish, Morass.]
A tract of soft wet land, commonly covered partially or
wholly with water; a fen; a swamp; a morass. [Written also
marish.]
Marsh asphodel (Bot.), a plant (Nartheeium ossifragum)
with linear equitant leaves, and a raceme of small white
flowers; -- called also bog asphodel.
Marsh cinquefoil (Bot.), a plant (Potentilla palustris)
having purple flowers, and found growing in marshy places;
marsh five-finger.
Marsh elder. (Bot.)
(a) The guelder-rose or cranberry tree (Viburnum Opulus).
(b) In the United States, a composite shrub growing in salt
marshes (Iva frutescens).
Marsh five-finger. (Bot.) See Marsh cinquefoil (above).
Marsh gas. (Chem.) See under Gas.
Marsh grass (Bot.), a genus (Spartina) of coarse grasses
growing in marshes; -- called also cord grass. The tall
S. cynosuroides is not good for hay unless cut very
young. The low S. juncea is a common component of salt
hay.
Marsh harrier (Zo["o]l.), a European hawk or harrier
(Circus [ae]ruginosus); -- called also marsh hawk,
moor hawk, moor buzzard, puttock.
Marsh hawk. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) A hawk or harrier (Circus cyaneus), native of both
America and Europe. The adults are bluish slate above,
with a white rump. Called also hen harrier, and mouse
hawk.
(b) The marsh harrier.
Marsh hen (Zo["o]l.), a rail; esp., Rallus elegans of
fresh-water marshes, and R. longirostris of salt-water
marshes.
Marsh mallow (Bot.), a plant of the genus Alth[ae]a ( A.
officinalis) common in marshes near the seashore, and
whose root is much used in medicine as a demulcent.
Marsh marigold. (Bot.) See in the Vocabulary.
Marsh pennywort (Bot.), any plant of the umbelliferous
genus Hydrocotyle; low herbs with roundish leaves,
growing in wet places; -- called also water pennywort.
Marsh quail (Zo["o]l.), the meadow lark.
Marsh rosemary (Bot.), a plant of the genus Statice (S.
Limonium), common in salt marshes. Its root is powerfully
astringent, and is sometimes used in medicine. Called also
sea lavender.
Marsh samphire (Bot.), a plant (Salicornia herbacea)
found along seacoasts. See Glasswort.
Marsh St. John's-wort (Bot.), an American herb (Elodes
Virginica) with small opposite leaves and flesh-colored
flowers.
Marsh tea. (Bot.). Same as Labrador tea.
Marsh trefoil. (Bot.) Same as Buckbean.
Marsh wren (Zo["o]l.), any species of small American wrens
of the genus Cistothorus, and allied genera. They
chiefly inhabit salt marshes.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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