szárszál

Szárszál is a Hungarian term that literally translates to "spear-stalk" or "thin stalk." It commonly refers to a thin, dry stalk of grain, particularly wheat or barley, that remains in the field after the harvest. These stalks are typically hollow and brittle. In a more general sense, the word can also be used to describe any slender, dry, and often insignificant stalk or stem, such as those of weeds or dried grasses. The term carries a connotation of being leftover, somewhat useless, or a remnant of something larger. It is often found in folk poetry and literature, where it can symbolize fragility, transience, or the remnants of past abundance. The visual image evoked by "szárszál" is one of a solitary, dry stalk standing against the elements.