Also 3 coren, 4 korn(e, 4–7 corne, 5 (9 dial.) coorn; Sc. CURN. [Common Teut.: OE. corn corresponds to OFris. korn (E.Fris. kôrn, kôren), OS. corn (MDu. coorn, coren, Du. koren), OHG. chorn, choron (MHG. korn, koren, mod.G. korn), ON. (Sw., Da.) korn, Gothic kaurn n.:—OTeut. *korno- from earlier *kurnóm grain, corn = OSlav. zrŭnó (Boh. zrno, Russ. zernó) grain:—Aryan type *gṛnóm; in form, a passive pple. neuter from the vb. stem ger- (gor-, gṛ-), in Skr. jṛ to wear down, waste away, pa. pple. jīrṇá:—gṛnóm, whence also L. grānum. A corn or grain is therefore, etymologically, a ‘worn-down’ particle.
The ablaut grade (ger-) is represented in Ger. kern kernel, OHG. kerno, ON. kjarni:—OTeut. kérnon- masc. More directly related is kernel, OE. cyrnel:—OTeut. kurn-ilo-, dim. of kurnó-.]
I. gen. A grain, a seed.
1. gen. A small hard particle, a grain, as of sand or salt. In OE. and mod. dial. (In literary use in 16–17th c., chiefly transl. L. grānum.)
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., vii. § 4. Swa fela welena swa þara sondcorna beoþ be þisum sæclifum.
a. 1000. Runic Poem, 9 (Gr.). Hægl byþ hwitust corna.
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. cxxxviii. 16 [cxxxix. 18]. Hi beoð ofer sand corn sniome maniʓe.
1340. Ayenb., 233. Hit behoueþ þet þis flour habbe wyþinne þri cornes of gold … þe þri cornes of þe lilye.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., I. 599. (Of poultry) Cornes [L. grana] that wol under growe her eye, That but thou lete hem oute, the sight wol die.
1520. Caxton’s Chron. Eng., IV. 38/2. He offerred 3 cornes of incense [cf. L. grana thuris] to the sacryfyce of the ydoles.
a. 1571. Jewel, On Thess. (1611), 132. We must vnderstand this authoritie with a corne of salt [L. cum grano salis] (otherwise it may bee vnsauorie.)
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Country Farme, 475. When you haue … bruised it, and brought it into small cornes.
a. 1656. Bp. Hall, Occas. Medit. (1851), 11. He, that cannot make one spire of grass, or corn of sand, will yet be framing of worlds.
1698. J. Crull, Muscovy, 193. Having put a corn of Salt in the Child’s Mouth.
1876. Mid-Yorksh. Gloss., Corn, a grain, or particle, a ‘corn of tobacco,’ a ‘corn of powder,’ a ‘corn of rice.’
1888. Elworthy, West Somerset Word-bk., Corn, a particle of anything … as a corn of sugar-candy, black pepper, brimstone.
† b. spec. One of the roundish particles into which gunpowder is formed by the corning or granulating process; a grain of corn-powder. Obs. Cf. CORN v. 1.
1595. Markham, Sir R. Grinvile, Argt. Sir Richard mayntained the fight, till he had not one corne of powder left.
1660. W. Secker, Nonsuch Prof., 343. A Train of Powder … takes fire from corn to corn, till at last the Barrel is burst in sunder.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., V. 65. The harder the Corns of Powder are in feeling, by so much the better it is.
1736. Carte, Ormonde, I. 583. The soldiers … else would not have had a corn of powder … in case of an action.
† c. Kind or size of ‘grain.’ Obs.
1674–91. Ray, N. C. Words, 206. The Ale serves to harden the Corn of the Salt.
1679. Plot, Staffordsh. (1686), 94. If they intend a large Corne [of salt] they put into it [the brine] about … a quart of the strongest and stalest Ale.
2. spec. The small hard seed or fruit of a plant; now only with contextual specification or defining attribute, as in barley-corn, pepper-corn, etc.
a. A seed of one of the cereals, as of wheat, rye, barley, etc.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., John xii. 24. Hwætene corn [1382 Wyclif corn of whete; so 1611; 1881 grain of wheat] wunað ana buton hyt fealle on eorþan & sy dead.
a. 1175. Cotton Hom., 241. Þis bread was imaced of ane hwete corne.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 260. Heo breken þe eares bi þe weie, & gniden þe cornes ut bitweonen hore honden.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 62. Þe weiȝte of þre cornys of wheete.
1495. Act 12 Hen. VII., c. 5. Every Sterling to be of the Weight of xxxij Corns of Wheat that grew in the Midst of the Ear.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 13. The cornes be very great and white, and it is the best barley.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 228. The ant … was occupied in gathering wheat cornes together.
1738. [G. Smith], Curious Relat., II. v. 63. Suppose that 1 Corn produces the first Year 50 Corns.
c. 1842. Lance, Cottage Farmer, 11. The ears had ninety corns each on an average.
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, III. 185. (Malting) A sprouted corn or two. Ibid. Broken and bruised corns.
b. The seed or fruit of various other plants, as of an apple, a grape, pepper, coffee, etc.
a. 700. Epinal Gloss., 790. Ptysones, berecorn berendæ.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past., xv. Se æppel … moniʓ corn oninnan him hæfð.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., I. 74. Ȝenim … xvii pipor corn gnid to somne.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. xiii. 31. The kyngdam of heuenes is like to a corn of seneuey.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, C v a. Take … the cornes of sporge and grinde it weell.
1561. Hollybush, Hom. Apoth., 24 a. Juniper whereon are manye berryes or cornes.
1586. Cogan, Haven Health, cxxii. (1636), 123. A few cornes of blacke pepper.
1747. Wesley, Prim. Physick (1762), 103. Swallow five or six corns of White Pepper.
1876. Sir S. D. Scott, To Jamaica, 104. Each [coffee] berry contains two corns…. The corns slide through into other troughs of water.
II. spec. The fruit of the cereals.
3. collective sing. The seed of the cereal or farinaceous plants as a produce of agriculture; grain.
As a general term the word includes all the cereals, wheat, rye, barley, oats, maize, rice, etc., and, with qualification (as black corn, pulse corn), is extended to leguminous plants, as pease, beans, etc., cultivated for food. Locally, the word, when not otherwise qualified, is often understood to denote that kind of cereal which is the leading crop of the district; hence in the greater part of England ‘corn’ is = wheat, in North Britain and Ireland = oats; in the U.S. the word, as short for Indian corn, is restricted to maize (see 5).
871–89. Charter Ælfred, in O. E. Texts, 452. He ʓeselle of ðem londe xxx. … cornes eʓhwelce ʓere to hrofescestre.
898. O. E. Chron., an. 895. Hie wæron be numene æʓðer ʓe þæs ceapes ʓe þæs cornes. Ibid. (1044), (MS. C). On ðisum ʓere wæs … corn swa dyre swa nan man ær ne ʓemunde.
c. 1225. Ancr. R., 234. Satan is ȝeorne abuten uorto ridlen þe ut of mine corne!
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2159. Iacob for-ðan Sente in to egipt to bringen coren.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. lxv. (Tollem. MS.). Sum corne þryueþ in on grounde, and fayleþ in a noþere.
1558. Warde, trans. Alexis’ Secr. (1568), 24 b. All sortes of pulse corne, as Pease, Beanes, Tares, and Fitches.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Country Farme, 533. Grounds that are to be sowne with corne, that is to say, with Rie corne, Maslin, some kind of Barly, Turkie corne, and such others, whereof bread is made, and especially … Wheat corne.
1767. Byron’s Voy. round World, 143. Rice is the only corn that grows in the island.
1774. Percival, Ess. (1776), III. 62. Wheat … so lately has it been cultivated in Lancashire, that it has scarcely yet acquired the name of corn, which in general is applied only to barley, oats, and rye.
1825–79. Jamieson, Sc. Dict., Corn, the name commonly given to oats, before they are ground.
1859. Tennyson, Geraint & Enid, 263. An ancient churl … Went sweating underneath a sack of corn.
1876. F. K. Robinson, Whitby Gloss., Black coorn, beans; dark pulse.
1880. Antrim & Down Gloss., Corn, oats.
1888. Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., Corn, wheat.
† b. pl. Kinds of corn; also corn-stuffs. Obs.
1544. Praer, Regim. Lyfe (1560), L viij. Wheate is best among al other cornes even as wyne among all other licours.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Treatise 140. Cornes, sic as pease, beanes, sould be sawin zearlie.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., VII. (1682), 317. Malta … a barren place … for their Corns, and Wines come daily by Barks from Sicilia.
a. 1649. Drumm. of Hawth., Load-Star, Wks. (1711), 184. For the provision of the army in corns, fewel, viands.
1745. trans. Columella’s Husb., I. vi. Corns [frumenta] may also be kept in pits.
4. Applied collectively to the cereal plants while growing, or, while still containing the grain.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past., lii. Ðone æcer … ðe stent on clænum lande, & bið unwæsðmbære oððe unʓefynde corn bringð oððe deaf.
a. 1123. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1103. Æʓðer ʓe on corne and eac on eallon treow wæstman.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 107. Þe blostme þe cumeð of coren of eorðe and of treuwe.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 4702 (Fairf.). Na come ne grisse on erþe sprange.
1499. Pynson, Promp. Parv., Corne that is grene, bladum.
1535. Coverdale, Judg. xv. 5. Samson … brent ye stoukes and the stondinge corne.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., V. v. 32. Her Foes shake like a Field of beaten Corne.
1795. Southey, Joan of Arc, IX. 368. As o’er the fertile field Billows the ripen’d corn.
1841–4. Emerson, Ess., Self-Reliance, Wks. (Bohn), I. 29. Sweet as the murmur of the brook and the rustle of the corn.
1861. Times, 4 Oct., 7/4. The corn is all cut, with the exception of a few late pieces.
† b. pl. Corn crops, cereals. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6840 (Cott.). Your land yee sal sau seuen yeir, And scer þar-of your corns seir.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter lxxvii. 5. Locustis ere bestis þat fleghis and etis kornes.
c. 1400. Maundev. (1839), xxiv. 255. There ben grete Pastures, but few Coornes [Fr. poy des blez].
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccclxxxi. 640. To gather and bring home theyr cornes, and some to threshe and to fanne.
1544. Phaër, Regim. Lyfe (1560), R v. Wilde cicorie, growing in the cornes.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj. Act K. Robert I., 35. Gif … the cornes in the fieldis happens to be brunt and consumed.
1745. trans. Columella’s Husb., XI. ii. During these days the corns must be weeded.
1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 299. The practice of weeding their corns is not so carefully observed among the moderns.
† c. A plant of one of the cereals; a corn-plant, corn-stalk. Obs. rare.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, III. 134. And many flowte and liltyng horne And pipes made of grene corne.
1590. T. Watson, Eclog. Walsingham (Arb.), 163. Now in the fields each corne hang down his head.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., II. i. 67. Playing on pipes of Corne.
5. U.S. Maize or Indian corn, Zea Mays; applied both to the separated seeds, and to the growing or reaped crop.
Wheat, rye, barley, oats, etc., are in U.S. called collectively grain. Corn- in combinations, in American usage, must therefore be understood to mean maize, whereas in English usage it may mean any cereal; e.g., a cornfield in England is a field of any cereal that is grown in the country, in U.S. one of maize.
[1697. Dampier, Voy. (1698), I. iii. 40. A Fleet of Pereagoes laden with Indian Corn, Hog, and Fowls, going to Cartagene…. Here … we stock’d our selves with Corn, and then went.]
1726. W. R. Chetwood, Adv. Capt. R. Boyle, 359. How happy he [an Indian] should be in the Company of their God, where would be no want of Corn, or Wood, or any Thing.
1809. Kendall, Trav., I. xxvi. 247. The planting or sowing of maize, exclusively called corn, was just accomplished.
1837. Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., II. 43. Everything eats corn, from slave to chick.
1891. Boston (Mass.) Jrnl., 27 Nov., 6/1. The corner in November corn is still on.
6. With defining attribute as AMELCORN, BREAD-CORN, BROOM-CORN, INDIAN CORN, POP-CORN, SEED-CORN, TURKEY-CORN, etc., q.v.
III. 7. Phrases. † New ale in corns: ? ale as drawn off the malt: cf. CORNY 2. Corn in Egypt: said of a plentiful supply of anything to be had in the proper quarter: in allusion to Gen. xlii. 2. To measure another’s corn by one’s own bushel: see BUSHEL sb.1 2 c. And other proverbial expressions. To acknowledge the corn: see CORN sb.2 2.
a. 1529. Skelton, El. Rummyng, 378. And blessed her wyth a cup Of new ale in cornes.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 491/2. Then would those heretikes by their willes, that in stede of wyne and water, men woulde consecrate new ale in cornes.
1539. Taverner, Erasm. Prov. (1552), 59 b. The corne in an other mans grounde semeth euer more fertyle and plentyfull than doth oure owne.
1552. Huloet, Ale newe, or new ale in the cornes, mustum.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867). 30. All this winde shakis no corne.
1677. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., IV. vii. 348. Mankind is negligent in improving his Observation, he never rubs the Corn out of the Ear.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, A great Harvest of a little Corn, a great adoe in a little Matter.
a. 1834. Lamb, Lett., in Ainger, Life, vii. There is corn in Egypt while there is cash at Leadenhall.
1837. Goring & Pritchard, Microgr., 65. He must not measure his neighbour’s corn by his own bushel.
IV. attrib. and Comb. (Almost exclusively in senses 3–5.)
8. attrib. Of or pertaining to corn or grain, or, in U.S., to maize.
c. 1420. in Rel. Ant., I. 233. In a good corne contrey rest the.
1611. Bible, Gen. xliv. 2. Put my cup, the siluer cup, in the sackes mouth of the yongest, and his corne money.
1798. W. Lorimer (title), A Letter to the Corn Committee, on the Importation of Rough Rice, as a Supplement of Wheat Flour.
1830. Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 302. The Corn tribe … such as Wheat, Barley, Oats, Maize, Rice, and Guinea Corn.
1832–52. McCulloch, Dict. Comm., 416. Until the season was too far advanced for bringing supplies from the great corn markets in the north of Europe.
1842. Act 5–6 Vict., 2 Sess. c. 14. Any Corn Returns believed fraudulent may be omitted in the Computation.
Mod. Market Report, Corn Averages.
b. Consisting of grains; granulated.
1884. F. J. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 101. Corn Emery used for sharpening cutting burnishers.
9. General combinations: a. attributive, as corn-bread, -colo(u)r, -crop, -dole, -ear, -fair, -feast, -goddess, -harvest, -head, -heap, -leaf, -market, -mart, merchant, -plant, -produce, -riddle, -shock, -song, -stack, -stubble, -trade, etc.; (used in the cultivation, carriage, storage, etc., of corn), as corn-bin, -bing, -chamber, -city, -fan, -loft, -ship, -shovel, -sieve, -van, -wain, -yard. b. obj. genitive (sometimes as names of mechanical contrivances), as corn-cadger, -cleaner, -crusher, -cultivator, -gauger, -harvester, etc. c. objective, as corn-cumbering, -devouring, -exporting, -growing, -planting, -producing, etc., vbl. sbs., and adjs.; d. instrumental, as corn-clad, -feeding, -laden, -strewed, -wreathed, etc., ppl. adjs.; corn-fit adj.; e. parasynthetic, as corn-colo(u)red adj.
1859. R. F. Burton, Centr. Afr., in Jrnl. Geog. Soc., XXIX. 161. A mortar for grain, and sundry gourds and bark *corn-bins.
1745. trans. Columella’s Husb., I. vi. The granaries are also distinguished with partitions or *corn-bings.
1769. De Foe’s Tour Gt. Brit., II. 150. The *Corn-chambers and Magazines in Holland.
1869. Blackmore, Lorna D., iii. (ed. 12), 11. The rats were bad in the corn-chamber.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Chron. viii. 4. The *cornecyties [1611 store-cities] which he buylded in Hemath.
1808. J. Barlow, Columb., II. 18. And *corn-clad vales a happier state attest.
1891. Daily News, 1 Oct., 3/1. *Corn colour is popular for ball gowns. Ibid. (1887), 20 July, 6/2. A girl in *corn-coloured surah, relieved with shoulder-knots and belt of wheat-green velvet.
1834. Brit. Husb., I. 260. When applied to *corn-crops, it should be … already decomposed.
1865. Lubbock, Preh. Times, 133. The presence of *corn-crushers, which are round balls of hard stone, two or three inches in diameter, proves that agriculture was known and practised even in the Stone age.
1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. i. III. Wks. (Grosart), I. 115. Cockle, wilde Oats, rough Burs, *Corn-cumbring Tares.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 270. The *Corn-devouring Weezel here abides.
1553. Grimalde, Cicero’s Offices, II. (1558), 105. Caius Gracchus *cornedole was gret, he wasted therefore the treasurie.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 305 (Mātzn.). Þe sweuene or þe seuene *corneres.
1425. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 664/19. Hec spica, a cornehere.
1888. Boston (Mass.) Jrnl., 24 Nov., 4/4. Portsmouth, Ohio, is to have a *corn fair.
1675. Hobbes, Odyssey (1677), 287. Bearing upon his shoulder a *corn-fan.
1823. J. D. Hunter, Mem. Captivity N. Amer., 274. No occasion … displays in a more manifest degree its social effects than the *corn feast.
1846. M’Culloch, Acc. Brit. Empire (1854), I. 443. Though the population in *corn-feeding countries were dependent on the cheapest species of grain.
1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. ii. iv. The *Corn-fit soyl.
1890. J. G. Frazer, Gold. Bough, I. iii. 330, note. Demeter as a *corn-goddess.
1823. W. Cobbett, Rur. Rides (1885), I. 265. To send their *corn-gaugers over the country regularly year after year.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, III. X. 479. Their *Corn Harvest had prov’d this year so thin, that thereupon a great … Famine ensu’d.
1709. Act 7 Anne, in Lond. Gaz., No. 4512/11. All Persons working at Hay-Harvest and Corn-Harvest work … shall not be Impressed.
1891. Pall Mall Gaz., 22 Aug., 2/3. This selfsame offence of plucking a few *cornheads.
1620. Bp. Hall, Hon. Mar. Clergie, 195 (T.). What if in his chaffe hee finde but one [vntruth], whiles I in my *Corn-heape can finde more?
1881. Chicago Times, 14 May. She [i.e., the vessel] is *corn-laden for Buffalo.
1856. Olmsted, Slave States, 414. Some bundles of *corn-leaves, to be fed to the horse.
1611. Cotgr., Grenier, a Garner; a *Corne-loft; a roome to keepe salt, or corne, in.
1547. Mem. Ripon (Surtees), III. 77. Unius burgagii in Rypon in le olde *Corne markettstede.
1837. Whittock, Bk. Trades, 164. The Factor introduces samples of the corn upon his stand or counter in the corn market.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., II. xxxiii. 6. A Village where a *Corn Mart is kept once or twice in a Week.
1832. Veg. Subst. Food, 10. The chief *corn-plants … are wheat, rye, barley, oats, millet, rice, and maize.
1849. Grote, Greece, II. xlii. V. 268. The importance of its *corn-produce.
1878. Oxford Bible Helps, 210. Egypt was a great *corn-producing country in Jacob’s time.
1854. H. Miller, Sch. & Schm., viii. (1860), 80/1. Two tall pyramids of braxy-mutton, heaped up each on a *corn-riddle.
c. 1878. Oxford Bible Helps, 142. Alexandrian *corn-ships carried one large square-sail.
1583. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 53. *Corneshocks sindged with blasterus hurling Of Southwynd whizeling.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), K iv b. Paddles … are pieces of … wood … resembling a *corn-shovel.
1890. J. G. Frazer, Gold. Bough, I. iii. 306. Isis placed the severed limbs of Osiris on a *corn-sieve.
1844–5. Schoolcraft, Oneota, 254. The cereal chorus, or *corn-song, as sung by the Northern Algonquin tribes.
a. 1631. Drayton, Wks., III. 932 (Jod.). On the *cornstrew’d lands.
1842. Bischoff, Woollen Manuf., II. 212. The weeds and thistles which are in *corn stubbles.
1753. (title) The State of the *Corn Trade considered.
a. 1455. Houlate, xv. Cryand crawis … Will cum to the *corne ȝard.
10. Corn is also prefixed to the names of many plants to distinguish a species that grows in corn-fields, as Corn Bell-flower, Blue-bottle, Bugloss, Campion, Crowfoot, Mustard, Poppy, Speedwell, Thistle, Woundwort, etc.; also to names of animals living in corn-fields or infesting corn, as Corn Bunting, Sawfly, Weevil, etc. See these words.
11. Special Combinations: † corn-badger, a dealer in corn (see BADGER sb.1); corn-ball (U.S.), a sweetmeat made of popped corn or maize; corn-beef, corned beef (see CORNED ppl. a.); corn-beetle, a very small beetle, Cucujus testaceus, the larva of which often makes great ravages in stores of grain; corn-bells, (a) a species of fungus, Cyathus vernicosus or Nidularia campanulata, found in England in corn-fields, etc.; (b) dial. name for ears of corn (see quot.): corn-bill, a parliamentary draft of a proposed corn-law; corn-bind, (a) the wild English convolvulus; (b) Running Buckwheat, BINDCORN, Polygonum Convolvulus; also called corn-bindweed; corn-binks (dial.), the Blue-bottle, Centaurea Cyanus; corn-blade (U.S.), the broad leaf of Indian corn; corn-boggart (dial.), a figure set up to scare away birds, etc., from growing corn; corn-boor, in South Africa, a boor who chiefly grows corn (Ger. korn-bauer); corn-bottle (dial.), the Blue-bottle; corn-brake (U.S.), a plantation of maize; corn-broom (U.S.), a broom made of the panicles of Broom-corn or of the tops and dried seed-stalks of the maize-plant; corn-cale, Charlock or Field Mustard, Sinapis arvensis; corn-cart, a farm-cart adapted to the carriage of corn, etc.; † corn-dish, a dish for measuring corn; corn-drake (dial.) = CORN-CRAKE (Montagu, 1802–33); corn-drill, a machine or drill for sowing grain in rows or, in U.S., Indian corn; Corn-Exchange, an Exchange devoted to the corn-trade; † corn-floor, a threshing floor; corn-fly, a name given to flies of the genera Chloris and Oscinis on account of the injury done by them to growing crops; corn-fodder (U.S.), Indian corn sown broad-cast and cut to serve as fodder; corn-fritter (U.S.), a fritter made of batter mixed with grated green Indian corn; corn-grass, an old name of Agrostis Spicaventi; corn-grate, corn-grit (dial.) = CORN-BRASH; corn-grater (U.S.), an appliance for detaching green Indian corn from the cob; corn-hill, in N. America, a small hillock raised by the Indians for the planting of maize; † corn-honey, honey that has become granulated; corn-hook (U.S.), an instrument with a short scythe-like blade, for reaping Indian corn; † corn-hoop, a measure for corn; corn-huller, a machine for hulling corn; corn-jobber, a dealer in corn; corn-juice (U.S. slang), whisky made of Indian corn, hence whisky generally; corn-knife (U.S.), a large strong knife for cutting standing Indian corn; corn-lift, a mechanical contrivance in a mill or warehouse for raising sacks of corn; corn-man, a laborer employed in the reaping or carrying of corn; † corn-meter, one who superintends the measuring of corn sold or distributed; corn-mildew, a mildew that attacks growing corn; corn-mint, (a) a name, in Turner, of a species of Calamint, C. Acinos, Wild Basil (cf. Ger. kornminze, Du. corneminte); (b) book-name of the Field-mint, Mentha arvensis; corn-month, the month for harvesting the corn crops; corn-moth, a species of moth, Tinea granella, the larva of which, called the ‘wolf,’ is very destructive to corn; corn-mother, corn-queen: cf. corn-spirit; corn-mow (dial.), a stack of corn or a place where corn is stacked; corn-oyster (U.S.), a corn-fritter with a taste resembling that of oysters; corn-pike, † (a) a pitch-fork; (b) a circular rick of corn, pointed at the top (dial.); corn-pit (U.S.), the part of an Exchange where the business in Indian corn is carried on; corn-planter, a machine for planting grain or Indian corn; corn-popper (U.S.), a wire pan or covered tray used in popping Indian corn; corn-popping (U.S.), the making of popped Indian corn by roasting it till it splits and the white flour swells out; a social gathering at which this is done; corn-queen (see corn-mother); corn-rail = CORN-CRAKE; † corn-rate = CORN-RENT; corn-rig (dial.), a ‘ridge’ of growing corn, the strip between two furrows in a corn-field; corn-rust, a parasitic fungus infesting growing corn; † corn-sedge = CORN-FLAG; corn-sheller (U.S.), a machine for removing the grains from the ear or cob of Indian corn; corn-smut, a disease in growing corn, produced by a fungus that turns the grains into a black soot-like powder; corn-spirit (in writers on folk-lore), a spirit or animated being (taking various forms), supposed by some races to dwell in corn; corn-starch (U.S.), (a) a starch made of Indian corn; (b) a fine flour made of Indian corn and used in puddings, custards, etc.; corn-stook (north dial.), a shock of corn; corn-thrips, a small insect, Thrips cerealium, which deposits its eggs on wheat, oats, grasses, etc.; corn-tongs (see quot.); † corn-van, a ‘van’ or fan formerly used in winnowing corn; † corn-violet, a name of Campanula Speculum. Also CORN-BABY, -BRANDY, etc.
1666. Merrett, Pinax Rev. Natur. Brit. (Britten), Call’d in Wostershire *Cornbells, where it grows plentifully.
1865. Cornh. Mag., July, 39. Corn-ears in Northamptonshire are corn-bells.
1768. Foote, Devil on 2 Sticks, I. (1794), 5. In the debate on the *corn-bill.
1822. W. Cobbett, Rur. Rides (1885), I. 77. That distress which led to the present Corn Bill.
1788. W. Marshall, E. Yorkshire Gloss., *Cornbind, climbing buck-wheat; also corn convolvulus.
1828. Webster, *Corn-blades are collected and preserved as fodder, in some of the southern states of America.
1865. B. Brierley, Irkdale, I. 92. He’s as shy at new faces as a brid at a *curn-boggart.
1786. Sparrman, Voy. Cape G. H., II. 249. In their company came a husbandman, or, as they are usually called here, a *corn-boor, from the country near Cape Town.
1731. Medley, Kolben’s Cape G. Hope, II. 268. *Corn-Bottles were brought to the Cape with the corn that was first sow’d there.
1844. G. Featherstonhaugh, in Chamb. Jrnl., 5 Oct., 223. He crept softly through a *corn-brake which lay between the animal and himself, and fired.
1794. G. B. Hepburn, Agric. Surv. East Lothian, 74 (Jam.). Hay and the different kinds of grain are carried on the open spoked cart, known by the name of *corn-cart.
1419. Liber Albus (Rolls), I. 243. Quilibet capitalis mensurarius habeat unum quarterium, et bussellum, et stryk, et *corndisshe.
1856. Farmer’s Mag., Jan., 22. The occupier preferred hiring to purchasing a *corn-drill.
1794. Tomlins, Law Dict. (1809), s.v. Corn, The exportation of corn [is] to be regulated in London, Kent, Essex, and Sussex by the prices at the *Corn Exchange.
1388. Wyclif, Ezek. xvii. 10. It schal … wexe drye in the *cornfloris of his seed [Vulg. in areis germinis sui arescet].
1535. Coverdale, Hos. ix. 1. Straunge rewardes hast thou loued, more then all corne floores [so 1611 and 1885]. Therfore shall they nomore enioye the cornefloores [1611 the floor, 1885 threshingfloor] and wynepresses.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, I. iii. 5. *Corne-grass hath many grassie leaues.
1794. T. Davis, Agric. Wilts, 114. The undersoil is a loose irregular mass of that kind of flat broken stones called in Wiltshire, *‘Corn Grate.’
1822. Conybeare & Phillips, Outl. Geol. Eng. & Wales, 202–3. In Wiltshire it is known by the name of the cornbrash or corn-grit. The latter appellation however is improper, because it is not a grit.
1865. Lubbock, Preh. Times, 230. In many places the ground is covered with small mammillary elevations, which are known as Indian *corn-hills.
1609. C. Butler, Fem. Mon., vi. (1623), O iij. When it is turned white and hard (euen like unto sugar) it is called *corn-hony or stone-hony.
1660. Willsford, Scales Comm., 155. The dimension of round, concave and dry measures, as Pecks, Bushels, Strikes, *Corn-hoops, &c.
1795. Hull Advertiser, 7 Nov., 2/4. The *corn jobber … from this sample bought up the whole.
1847. Robb, Squatter Life, 107 (Bartlett). Tom wanted a fight, and as he was too full of *corn juice to cut carefully, I didn’t want to take advantage of him.
1854. P. B. St. John, Amy Moss, 50. He … did anything … which youthful spirits and ‘corn-juice’ prompted.
1890. Daily News, 9 Oct., 5/2. The above rates of wages for dockers and *cornmen.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, IV. vii. 129. Joseph was *corn-meater generall in Egypt.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 549. Corn-meter [as one of the public officers of Hindustan].
1883. Gd. Words, Nov., 733/2. Later in the season this [rust] develops into the *corn-mildew.
1551. Turner, Herbal, I. (1568), G vj b. Thys kynde of Calamynte … is called in Englishe comonly *corne mynt.
1861. Miss Pratt, Flower. Pl., IV. 163. Corn Mint … is one of the commonest species of mint.
a. 1835. Mrs. Hemans, Earth, Poems 398. The *corn-month’s golden hours will come.
1890. J. G. Frazer, Gold. Bough, I. iii. 341. Out of the last sheaf the Bulgarians make a doll which they call the Corn-queen or *Corn-mother.
1765. Lond. Chron., 24 Aug., 192. A poor man … fell from a *corn-mow … and fractured his skull.
a. 1796. Burns, Ploughman. Commend me to the barn-yard, And the corn-mou, man.
1611. Cotgr., Javelier, a *corne-pike, or pitchforke, wherewith sheaues of corne be loaden, and vnloaded.
1714. J. Walker, Suff. Clergy, II. 394/1. One Susan Bolke … came, and with her Corn-Pike, made at Morton.
1891. Boston (Mass.) Jrnl., 20 Nov., 8/3. For a time this morning there was a panic in the *corn-pit, and the November option of that cereal sold up 7 cents from the closing price of yesterday.
1856. Engineer, I. 14/1. Improvements in hand *corn-planters.
1884. Rose Terry Cooke, in Harper’s Mag., Sept., 610/2. What romps they would have! what *corn-poppings!
1830. trans. Aristophanes’ Acharnians, etc., Birds, 228. Stones … the *cornrails chiselled with their bills.
1665. D. Lloyd, Fair Warnings, 17. The setling of the *Corne-rate for the Universities.
1794. Burns, Rigs o’ Barley. *Corn rigs, an’ barley rigs, An’ corn rigs are bonnie.
a. 1845. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Jerry Jarvis. Hid in a corn-rig.
1870. H. Macmillan, Bible Teach., vi. 121. In appearance the *corn-rust is a mere patch of reddish-yellow powder.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal (1633), 104 (L.). Called … in English, corne-flag, *corne-sedge, sword-flag, corne-gladen.
1858. O. W. Holmes, Aut. Breakf.-t., 9. A Frankenstein-monster, a thing … that turns out results like a *corn-sheller.
1883. Gd. Words, Nov., 735/2. *Corn-smut is not nearly so injurious as corn-mildew.
1890. J. G. Frazer, Gold. Bough, I. 307. The *corn-spirit seems to be only an extension of the older tree-spirit.
1862. Exhibition, Rep. of Juries (1863), III A, 13. Maizena or *corn starch used for food.
1887. Hood’s Cook-bk., No. 7. Cake made from corn-starch.
1884. Speedy, Sport, x. 176. Those who conceal themselves in *corn-stooks.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., 233. As if they had pull’d out his Eyes with Pincers and held him by the nose with *Corne-tongs.
1884. F. J. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 69. Corn Tongs … [are] Tweezers with the gripping points formed to resemble the shell of a barley corn. They are used by jewellers for picking up stones, [etc.].
1725. Pope, Odyss., XXIII. 291. An oar my hand must bear; a shepherd eyes The unknown instrument with strange surprise And calls a *corn-van.
1665. Hooke, Microgr., 152. Of the seeds of Venus looking-glass, or *Corn Violet.
