short-grained, a.
[f. short a.; cf. grained ppl. a.2]
1. Of wood: Having a short fibre rendering it liable to snap easily. Hence transf. of a bone.
| 1670–1 Narborough Jrnl. in Acc. Sev. Late Voy. i. (1694) 107 White Cedar and such like Wood..are very heavy and short-grained, and will break short. 1776 G. Semple Building in Water 86 Bog Oak Timber is..dozed and short grained. 1835–6 Todd's Cycl. Anat. I. 441/1 The presence of..phosphate of lime rendered the bone short-grained. |
2. Of rice: having a relatively short grain.
| 1953 N. Heaton Cassell's Cooking Dict. 422 Rice may be short-grained.., or long-grained and brightly polished... The former is used chiefly for puddings. 1978 J. Passmore All Asian Cookbk. (1979) 8 Chinese like their rice reasonably dry, short-grained. |