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Webster 1913 Edition


Rye

Rye

(rī)
,
Noun.
[OE.
rie
,
reie
, AS.
ryge
; akin to Icel.
rugr
, Sw.
råg
, Dan.
rug
, D.
rogge
, OHG.
rocco
,
roggo
, G.
rocken
,
roggen
, Lith.
rugei
, Russ.
roje
, and perh. to Gr.
ὄρυζα
rice. Cf.
Rice
.]
1.
(Bot.)
A grain yielded by a hardy cereal grass (
Secale cereale
), closely allied to wheat; also, the plant itself. Rye constitutes a large portion of the breadstuff used by man.
2.
A disease in a hawk.
Ainsworth.
Rye grass
,
Italian rye grass
,
(Bot.)
See under
Grass
. See also
Ray grass
, and
Darnel
.
–
Wild rye
(Bot.)
,
any plant of the genus
Elymus
, tall grasses with much the appearance of rye.

Webster 1828 Edition


Rye

RYE

,
Noun.
[This word is the English rough.]
1.
An esculent grain of the genus Secale, of a quality inferior to wheat, but a species of grain easily cultivated, and constituting a large portion of bread stuff.
2.
A disease in a hawk.