roasting ear

American  

noun

1. an ear of sweet corn suitable for roasting while still in the husk.

2. Midland and Southern U.S. an ear of sweet corn ripe enough to be boiled and eaten on the cob.

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Etymology

Origin of roasting ear

An Americanism dating back to 1640–50

Example Sentences

Because the racoons damage corn in the roasting ear stage the animals are disliked by the farmers, a score of whom sometimes band together in an organized hunt to kill the animals.

From Project Gutenberg

Although the place is �* with Christians, transcontinental travelers, U. S. Highway 77, Canada to Mexico, need not hesitate to stop overnight, as a very good quality of roasting ear juice, distilled in the lush, dewy blackland river bottoms of Central Texas, is procurable at a fair price.

From Time Magazine Archive

Roasting Ear Juice Sirs: I note that Mr. J. H. Landers of Temple, Tex., has called your hand about the height of skyscrapers; reminded you that the omission of the Amicable Building at Waco, Tex., was a grave one.

From Time Magazine Archive

The year they divided into five seasons, Cattapeak, the budding time of spring; Messinough, roasting ear time; Cohattayough, summer; Taquitock, the fall of the leaf; and Popanow, winter, sometimes called Cohonk, after the cry of the migratory wild-geese.

From Project Gutenberg

Corn was in the roasting ear state, and there were plenty of big fields of it beyond and near the picket lines, and we helped ourselves liberally.

From Project Gutenberg