Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Corn \Corn\, n. [AS. corn; akin to OS. korn, D. koren, G., Dan.,
Sw., & Icel. korn, Goth. ka['u]rn, L. granum, Russ. zerno.
Cf. {Grain}, {Kernel}.]
1. A single seed of certain plants, as wheat, rye, barley,
and maize; a grain.
2. The various farinaceous grains of the cereal grasses used
for food, as wheat, rye, barley, maize, oats.
Note: In Scotland, corn is generally restricted to oats, in
the United States, to maize, or {Indian corn}, of which
there are several kinds; as, {yellow corn}, which grows
chiefly in the Northern States, and is yellow when
ripe; {white or southern corn}, which grows to a great
height, and has long white kernels; {sweet corn},
comprising a number of sweet and tender varieties,
grown chiefly at the North, some of which have kernels
that wrinkle when ripe and dry; {pop corn}, any small
variety, used for popping.
3. The plants which produce corn, when growing in the field;
the stalks and ears, or the stalks, ears, and seeds, after
reaping and before thrashing.
In one night, ere glimpse of morn, His shadowy flail
had thrashed the corn. --Milton.
4. A small, hard particle; a grain. ``Corn of sand.'' --Bp.
Hall. ``A corn of powder.'' --Beau. & Fl.
{Corn ball}, a ball of popped corn stuck together with soft
candy from molasses or sugar.
{Corn bread}, bread made of Indian meal.
{Corn cake}, a kind of corn bread; johnny cake; hoecake.
{Corn cockle} (Bot.), a weed ({Agrostemma or Lychnis
Githago}), having bright flowers, common in grain fields.
{Corn flag} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Gladiolus}; --
called also {sword lily}.
{Corn fly}. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) A small fly which, in the larval state, is injurious
to grain, living in the stalk, and causing the disease
called ``gout,'' on account of the swelled joints. The
common European species is {Chlorops t[ae]niopus}.
(b) A small fly ({Anthomyia ze}) whose larva or maggot
destroys seed corn after it has been planted.
{Corn fritter}, a fritter having green Indian corn mixed
through its batter. [U. S.]
{Corn laws}, laws regulating trade in corn, especially those
in force in Great Britain till 1846, prohibiting the
importation of foreign grain for home consumption, except
when the price rose above a certain rate.
{Corn marigold}. (Bot.) See under {Marigold}.
{Corn oyster}, a fritter containing grated green Indian corn
and butter, the combined taste resembling that of oysters.
[U.S.]
{Corn parsley} (Bot.), a plant of the parsley genus
({Petroselinum segetum}), a weed in parts of Europe and
Asia.
{Corn popper}, a utensil used in popping corn.
{Corn poppy} (Bot.), the red poppy ({Papaver Rh[oe]as}),
common in European cornfields; -- also called {corn rose}.
{Corn rent}, rent paid in corn.
{Corn rose}. See {Corn poppy}.
{Corn salad} (Bot.), a name given to several species of
{Valerianella}, annual herbs sometimes used for salad. {V.
olitoria} is also called {lamb's lettuce}.
{Corn stone}, red limestone. [Prov. Eng.]
{Corn violet} (Bot.), a species of {Campanula}.
{Corn weevil}. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) A small weevil which causes great injury to grain.
(b) In America, a weevil ({Sphenophorus ze[ae]}) which
attacks the stalk of maize near the root, often doing
great damage. See {Grain weevil}, under {Weevil}.