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prairie

1. An extensive tract of level or rolling land, destitute of trees, covered with coarse grass, and usually characterised by a deep, fertile soil. They abound throughout the Mississippi valley, between the Alleghanies and the rocky mountains. From the forests and the prairies, From the great lakes of the northland. (Longfellow)

2. A meadow or tract of grass; especially, a so called natural meadow.

(Science: zoology) Prairie chicken, any American grouse of the genus Tympanuchus, especially T. Americanus (formerly T. Cupido), which inhabits the prairies of the central united states. Applied also to the sharp-tailed grouse.

(Science: botany) Prairie clover See Coyote.

Origin: F, an extensive meadow, OF. Praerie, LL. Prataria, fr. L. Pratum a meadow.