What is "switch grass"

Switch \Switch\, n. [Cf. OD. swick a scourage, a whip. Cf. Swink, Swing.]

1. A small, flexible twig or rod.

   Mauritania, on the fifth medal, leads a horse with something like a thread; in her other hand she holds a switch.
   --Addison.

2. (Railways) A movable part of a rail; or of opposite rails, for transferring cars from one track to another.

3. A separate mass or trees of hair, or of some substance (at jute) made to resemble hair, worn on the head by women.

4. (Elec.) A device for shifting an electric current to another circuit, or for making and breaking a circuit.

   Safety switch (Railways), a form of switch contrived to prevent or lessen the danger of derailment of trains.

   Switch back (Railways), an arrangement of tracks whereby elevations otherwise insurmountable are passed. The track ascends by a series of zigzags, the engine running alternately forward and back, until the summit is reached.

   Switch board (Elec.), a collection of switches in one piece of apparatus, so arranged that a number of circuits may be connected or combined in any desired manner.

   Switch grass. (Bot.) See under Grass.

n. grass of western America used for hay [syn: Panicum virgatum]