rye

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A grain used extensively in Europe for making bread, beer, and (now generally) for animal fodder.

   They bought a sack of rye and a sack of wheat with the intent to try their hand at milling and baking.

2. 2
   noun

   The grass Secale cereale from which the grain is obtained.

   This field will be planted to rye next spring.

3. 3
   noun

   Ellipsis of rye bread.

   Customer: A tuna sandwich, please. Waiter: Sure, hon. You want that on white, wheat, or rye?

4. 4
   noun

   Ellipsis of rye whiskey, whiskey made mainly or wholly from rye grain.

   He likes any whiskey, but his favorite is rye.

* As an English surname, variant of Rea. * Also as an English surname, from the noun rye. * As a Norwegian surname, from several farmsteads whose name derive from Old Norse rjóðr (“forest clearing”); see the verb ryðja (“to clear”). * As a Danish surname, from the town Ry in Skanderbord. * The town in England is perhaps derived from Old English riþ (“river, stream”) whence also rith; compare ree.

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