Rye (?), n. [OE. rie, reie, AS.
ryge; akin to Icel.
rugr, Sw. råg, Dan. rug, D. rogge, OHG. rocco, roggo, G. rocken, roggen, Lith. rugei, Russ.
roje, and perh. to Gr.
'o`ryza rice. Cf. Rice.]
1. (Bot.) 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. Ainsworth.
Rye grass, Italian rye grass, (Bot.) See under Grass. See also Ray grass, and Darnel. -- Wild rye (Bot.), any plant of
the genus Elymus, tall grasses with much the appearance of rye.
Hear it pronounced