rye

¹

[rahy]

noun

1. a widely cultivated cereal grass, Secale cereale, having one-nerved glumes and two- or three-flowered spikelets.

2. the seeds or grain of this plant, used for making flour and whiskey, and as a livestock feed.

3. rye bread.

4. a straight whiskey distilled from a mash containing 51 percent or more rye grain.

5. Northeastern U.S. and Canada.,  a blended whiskey.

adjective

1. made with rye grain or flour.

   rye rolls.

rye

²

[rahy]

noun

1. a male Romani; Rom.

Rye

³

[rahy]

noun

1. a city in SE New York, on Long Island Sound.

rye

¹

/ raɪ /

noun

1. a tall hardy widely cultivated annual grass, Secale cereale , having soft bluish-green leaves, bristly flower spikes, and light brown grain See also wild rye

2. the grain of this grass, used in making flour and whiskey, and as a livestock food

3. Also called: rye whiskey. whiskey distilled from rye. US whiskey must by law contain not less than 51 per cent rye

4. short for rye bread

Rye

²

/ raɪ /

noun

1. a resort in SE England, in East Sussex: one of the Cinque Ports. Pop: 4195 (2001)

rye

³

/ raɪ /

noun

1. dialect,  a gentleman

Word History and Origins

Origin of rye¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English ryge; cognate with Old Norse rūgr; akin to Dutch rogge, German Roggen

Origin of rye²

First recorded in 1850–55; from Romani rai “man, gentleman,” ultimately from Sanskrit rājan “king”; rajah ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of rye¹

Old English ryge ; related to Old Norse rugr , Old French rogga , Old Saxon roggo

Origin of rye²

from Romany rai , from Sanskrit rājan king; see _rajah

Example Sentences

It was a newly installed hybrid field of rye and synthetic grass that could endure the wear and tear of 300-pound combatants.

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The rye plant senses the world around it with more than 14 million roots and root hairs, a network that one plant neurobiologist described as a type of brain.

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Meanwhile, Scandinavians are known for rye bread and foraging, though the communal dining and variety in their diets are largely overlooked.

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Shoppers around the country are forgoing California-grown fruits and veggies in favor of more local fare, and bar patrons are trading Kentucky bourbon for Canadian rye.

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For bread enthusiasts, stock up on yeast, bread flour and possibly some rye or whole wheat flour for variety.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• bran 
• corn 
• grain 
• rice 
• wheat