| rye | 1. <botany> 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. 2. A disease in a hawk. <botany> Rye grass, Italian rye grass,, any plant of the genus Elymus, tall grasses with much the appearance of rye. Origin: OE. Rie, reie, AS. Ryge; akin to Icel. Rugr, Sw. Rag, Dan. Rug, D. Rogge, OHG. Rocco, roggo, G. Rocken, roggen, Lith. Rugei, Russ. Roje, and perh. To Gr. 'oryza rice. Cf. Rice. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| Rye classification | Classification of Hodgkin's disease according to lymphocyte predominance, nodular sclerosing, mixed cellularity, and lymphocyte depletion types. Origin: Rye, NY, 1965 (05 Mar 2000) |
| rye smut | <botany> A disease of cereal plants (rye, wheat, etc.) caused by the fungus Claviceps purpurea, this fungus produces toxic alkaloids that, if ingested, cause symptoms such as hallucinations, severe gastrointestinal upset, a burning sensation in the limbs and extremities (St. Anthony's Fire) and a form of gangrene. (09 Oct 1997) |