rye-grass--prophetes.ai

rye-grass
  (ˈraɪgrɑːs, -æ-)
  Also 8 rie-.
  [In sense 1 an alteration of ray-grass. In sense 2 perh. directly f. rye n.¹]
  1. One or other of several species of Lolium, esp. L. perenne (common rye-grass) and L. italicum (Italian rye-grass), extensively cultivated as forage and fodder grasses.
  A large number of varieties of the common species are described by Morton Cycl. Agric. II. 279–281.

1712 J. Morton Nat. Hist. Northants. ix. 482 Rye-grass is with us accounted the best thing in the World for Wood-land in Enclosures. 1753 Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. App., Rye-Grass, in botany, the same with what is otherwise called Rey-grass. 1766 Museum Rust. VI. 196 The Red Darnel-grass, which has been so much cultivated, under the name of Ray-grass, or vulgarly Rie-grass. 1795 Burke Thoughts Scarcity Wks. VII. 406 The rye-grass, or coarse bent, suffered more than the clover. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles iii. i, The rye-grass shakes not on the sod-built fold. 1834 Brit. Husb. (L.U.K.) I. 515 Another species of this plant..has been lately introduced from the continent under the name of Italian rye-grass. 1871 Kingsley At Last v, The ground on the opposite slope..is covered with a grass like tall rye-grass, but growing in tufts. 1961 R. M. Patterson Buffalo Head vi. 216 The rocks were all hidden and a magnificent growth of rye-grass was swaying in the wind. 1979 Buffalo (N.Y.) Evening News 18 May ii. 22/2 The new turf-type perennial rye-grasses available today are real beauties.

attrib. 1747 Franklin Let. Wks. 1887 II. 81, I sowed an acre more with two bushels of rye-grass seed. 1801 Farmer's Mag. Aug. 312 Not rye grass hay, but hay made from rye cut green. 1890 Service Notandums 5 Shall I reprint the roup bills o' my ryegrass parks? 1931 R. Beale Bk. Lawn iv. 48 Rye grass mixtures..are recommended for heavy soils.

2. = wild rye (see quots. and rye n.¹ 2 c).

1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 325 Rye-grass, Hordeum. 1794 Martyn Fl. Rustica III. 108 Rie-grass [Hordeum pratense] is not uncommon in good meadows. 1796 Withering Brit. Pl. (ed. 3) II. 171 Hordeum murinum... Wild Rye. Rye-grass. 1846–50 A. Wood Class-Bk. Bot. 621 Elymus villosus. Rye Grass.