from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Corn \Corn\, n. [AS. corn; akin to OS. korn, D. koren, G., Dan.,
Sw., & Icel. korn, Goth. ka['u]rn, L. granum, Russ. zerno.
Cf. {Grain}, {Kernel}.]
1. A single seed of certain plants, as wheat, rye, barley,
and maize; a grain.
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2. The various farinaceous grains of the cereal grasses used
for food, as wheat, rye, barley, maize, oats.
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Note: In Scotland, corn is generally restricted to oats, in
the United States, to maize, or {Indian corn} (see
sense 3), and in England to wheat.
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3. a tall cereal plant ({Zea mays}) bearing its seeds as
large kernels in multiple rows on the surface of a hard
cylindrical ear, the core of which (the cob) is not
edible; -- also called {Indian corn} and, in technical
literature, {maize}. There are several kinds; as, {yellow
corn}, which grows chiefly in the Northern States, and is
yellow when ripe; {white corn} or {southern corn}, which
grows to a great height, and has long white kernels;
{sweet corn}, comprising a number of sweet and tender
varieties, grown chiefly at the North, some of which have
kernels that wrinkle when ripe and dry; {pop corn}, any
small variety, used for popping. Corn seeds may be cooked
while on the ear and eaten directly, or may be stripped
from the ear and cooked subsequently. The term {Indian
corn} is often used to refer to a primitive type of corn
having kernels of varied color borne on the same cob; it
is used for decoration, especially in the fall.
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4. The plants which produce corn, when growing in the field;
the stalks and ears, or the stalks, ears, and seeds, after
reaping and before thrashing.
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In one night, ere glimpse of morn,
His shadowy flail had thrashed the corn. --Milton.
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5. A small, hard particle; a grain. "Corn of sand." --Bp.
Hall. "A corn of powder." --Beau. & Fl.
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{Corn ball}, a ball of popped corn stuck together with soft
candy from molasses or sugar.
{Corn bread}, bread made of Indian meal.
{Corn cake}, a kind of corn bread; johnny cake; hoecake.
{Corn cockle} (Bot.), a weed ({Agrostemma Githago} syn.
{Lychnis Githago}), having bright flowers, common in grain
fields.
{Corn flag} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Gladiolus}; --
called also {sword lily}.
{Corn fly}. (Zool.)
(a) A small fly which, in the larval state, is injurious
to grain, living in the stalk, and causing the disease
called "gout," on account of the swelled joints. The
common European species is {Chlorops t[ae]niopus}.
(b) A small fly ({Anthomyia ze}) whose larva or maggot
destroys seed corn after it has been planted.
{Corn fritter}, a fritter having green Indian corn mixed
through its batter. [U. S.]
{Corn laws}, laws regulating trade in corn, especially those
in force in Great Britain till 1846, prohibiting the
importation of foreign grain for home consumption, except
when the price rose above a certain rate.
{Corn marigold}. (Bot.) See under {Marigold}.
{Corn oyster}, a fritter containing grated green Indian corn
and butter, the combined taste resembling that of oysters.
[U.S.]
{Corn parsley} (Bot.), a plant of the parsley genus
({Petroselinum segetum}), a weed in parts of Europe and
Asia.
{Corn popper}, a utensil used in popping corn.
{Corn poppy} (Bot.), the red poppy ({Papaver Rh[oe]as}),
common in European cornfields; -- also called {corn rose}.
{Corn rent}, rent paid in corn.
{Corn rose}. See {Corn poppy}.
{Corn salad} (Bot.), a name given to several species of
{Valerianella}, annual herbs sometimes used for salad.
{Valerianella olitoria} is also called {lamb's lettuce}.
{Corn stone}, red limestone. [Prov. Eng.]
{Corn violet} (Bot.), a species of {Campanula}.
{Corn weevil}. (Zool.)
(a) A small weevil which causes great injury to grain.
(b) In America, a weevil ({Sphenophorus ze[ae]}) which
attacks the stalk of maize near the root, often doing
great damage. See {Grain weevil}, under {Weevil}.
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