[f. CORN sb.1: a number of uses connected only by their common relation to the sb. in its various senses.]
I. 1. trans. To form into grains; to granulate; spec. to bring (gunpowder) into roundish particles or grains by working it through sieves.
1560. Whitehorne, Ord. Souldiours (1588), 28. Pouder … must be corned, and then dryed.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., xiv. 71. Serpentine powder in old time was in meale, but now corned.
1679. Plot, Staffordsh. (1686), 94. A quart of the strongest and stalest Ale … which cornes it [salt] greater or smaller according to the degree of its staleness.
1729. Shelvocke, Artillery, II. 104. Powder when it is corned is more active and powerful than when pulverized.
1796. Hull Advertiser, 6 Aug., 2/4. This mill … was used for … corning the powder.
1838. Penny Cycl., XI. 496/1. It [the composition] … is … sent to the corning-house to be corned or grained; here it is first pressed into a hard and firm body, broken into small lumps, and the powder is then grained by these lumps being put into sieves, [etc.].
† 2. intr. To take the form of grains, to become granular. Obs.
1560. Whitehorne, Ord. Souldiours (1588), 28. Into the which Seeue the pouder must be put while it is dancke, and also a little bowle, that when you sifte, it may roule vp and doune vpon the clots of pouder, to breake them, that it may corne, and runne through the hooles of the Seeue.
1644. Nye, Gunnery, I. (1647), 20.
1674–91. Ray, Making Salt, Coll. 206. After one hour’s boiling the Brine will begin to corn.
1679. Plot, Staffordsh. (1686), 94. They boile it [the brine] again gently till it begin to Corne.
II. 3. trans. To sprinkle with salt in grains; to season, pickle or preserve with salt; to salt.
1565–73. Cooper, Thesaurus, Aspergere salem carnibus, to corne with salt.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 167. Some corneth, some brineth, some will not be taught, where meate is attainted, there cookrie is naught.
1634. R. H., Salernes Regim., 86. The foresaid fishes be better, beeing a little corned with Salt, then fresh, or utterly salt.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), V. 266. The beef was woundily corned.
1801. Chron., in Ann. Reg., 1800, 110. Herrings sprinkled (or, as it is termed, ‘roused or corned’) with a moderate quantity of salt.
1882. Sat. Rev., LIV. 642. Obliged to corn a great part of the meat as the only way of preserving it for use.
III. † 4. To provision with corn or grain. rare.
1456. Sc. Acts Jas. II. (1814), 45 (Jam.). Thai ar bettir cornyt than thai war fernyere, and thair innemys war cornyt.
5. To give (a horse) a feed of oats. Sc. and north.
1753. Stewart’s Trial, 171. The pannel called at the deponent’s house … to have his horse corned.
1786. Burns, To Auld Mare, ix. When thou was corn’t, an’ I was mellow, We took the road ay like a swallow.
1824. Scott, Redgauntlet, let. xiii. There is nothing like corning the horse before the journey.
1876. Robinson, Whitby Gloss., Coorn’d, supplied with food. ‘Get ’em coorn’d,’ get the animals fed.
IV. 6. intr. Of cereals, or pulse: To form the corns or seeds in the ear or pod; to KERN.
1632. Quarles, Div. Fancies, III. liii. (1660), 122. The infant Eares shoot forth, and now begin To corn.
1660. Sharrock, Vegetables, 102. When it begins to corn in the ear.
1884. Times, 20 June, 4/4. Spring-sown beans … are short, thin, weak, and cannot corn well.
V. † 7. To produce corn. Obs. rare.
1590. R. W[ilson], Three Lords & Ladies Lond., in Hazl., Dodsley, VI. 397. There will never come his like, while the earth can corn.
8. trans. To crop (land) with corn or grain; in U.S. to plant with maize.
1649. Blithe, Eng. Improv. Impr. (1653), 184. And when you have corned your Land as much as you intend, then to alter it to Claver is the properest season.
1669. Worlidge, Syst. Agric., iii. § 4 (1681), 27.
† Corn, coren ppl. a. Obs. Early form of CHOSEN. For quots. see CHOOSE v. A. 6.
