from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Rye \Rye\ (r[imac]), n. [OE. rie, reie, AS. ryge; akin to Icel.
rugr, Sw. r[*a]g, Dan. rug, D. rogge, OHG. rocco, roggo, G.
rocken, roggen, Lith. rugei, Russ. roje, and perh. to Gr.
'o`ryza rice. Cf. {Rice}.]
1. (Bot.) A grain yielded by a hardy cereal grass ({Secale
cereale}), closely allied to wheat; also, the plant
itself. Rye constitutes a large portion of the breadstuff
used by man.
[1913 Webster]
2. A disease in a hawk. --Ainsworth.
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{Rye grass}, {Italian rye grass}, (Bot.) See under {Grass}.
See also {Ray grass}, and {Darnel}.
{Wild rye} (Bot.), any plant of the genus {Elymus}, tall
grasses with much the appearance of rye.
[1913 Webster]