sorgho
(ˈsɔːgəʊ)
Also 8 sorgo.
[a. F. sorgho or It. sorgo, also surgo, med.L. surgum, surcum, suricum (12–13th cent.), of unknown origin.]
= sorghum (esp. 1 b).
| 1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 327 Sorgo, Holcus. 1862 Ansted Channel Isl. iv. xx. 476 It may be worth stating that the sugar grass, or sorgho, has been cultivated with success as an experimental crop. 1868 Watts s.v., The glumes..and stems of sorgho contain red colouring-matters. 1893 Watt Dict. Econ. Prod. Ind. VI. iii. 277 The Sorgho, which is mainly cultivated on account of sugar. |
| attrib. 1862 Miller Elem. Chem., Org. (ed. 2) ii. §1. 74 Cane Sugar..is also contained in..the ripe sorgho grass. |
b. sweet sorgho,
= sorghum 1 b.
| 1861 Bentley Man. Bot. 697 Holcus saccharatus..is called the North China Sugar-cane or Sweet Sorgho. |