ratoon

Or rat·toon

[ra-toon]

noun

1. a sprout or shoot from the root of a plant, especially a sugarcane, after it has been cropped.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to put forth or cause to put forth ratoons.

ratoon

/ ræˈtuːn /

noun

1. a new shoot that grows from near the root or crown of crop plants, esp the sugar cane, after the old growth has been cut back

verb

1. to propagate or cause to propagate by such a growth

Other Word Forms

• ratooner noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ratoon¹

1625–35; < Spanish retoño sprout, derivative of retoñar to sprout again in the fall, equivalent to re- re- + - ( o ) toñar, derivative of otoño autumn

Word History and Origins

Origin of ratoon¹

C18: from Spanish retoño young shoot, from _re- + otoñar to sprout in autumn, from otoño _autumn

Example Sentences

Indian farmers usually take one ratoon crop as after that yields begin to drop.

From Reuters

Ratoon, ra-tōōn′, n. a new shoot from the root of a sugar-cane.—v.i. to send up new shoots from the root after cropping.

From Project Gutenberg

There is also a great injury done to the remaining stumps and top roots by this burning which is very detrimental when the field is to be used for a ratoon crop.

From Project Gutenberg

The first crop is called the "plant" crop, and those that follow are known as "ratoon" crops, the latter continuing several years.

From Project Gutenberg

The first is called plant cane; the second is known as first-year stubble, or ratoon.

From Project Gutenberg