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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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


verb

  1. to propagate or cause to propagate by such a growth
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Words From

  • ra·tooner noun
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of ratoon1

C18: from Spanish retoño young shoot, from re- + otoñar to sprout in autumn, from otoño autumn
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Example Sentences

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

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

He considers they would ratoon better than any other cane, and the return from it is on the average 3,600 lbs.

They are called here, though I do not know why, ratoon oysters.

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