rye

plural ryes

1. countableuncountableA grain used extensively in Europe for making bread, beer, and (now generally) for animal fodder.First known use 8th c.

   They bought a sack of rye and a sack of wheat with the intent to try their hand at milling and baking.

   1 more example

   Sing a ſong of ſixpence, a bag full of rye.

   1795, Gammer Gurton's Garland, or, The Nursery Parnassus, Stockton: R. Christopher, page 28

2. countableuncountableThe grass Secale cereale from which the grain is obtained.First known use 14th c.

   This field will be planted to rye next spring.

3. abbreviationcountableellipsisuncountableEllipsis of rye bread.First known use 19th c.

   Customer: A tuna sandwich, please. Waiter: Sure, hon. You want that on white, wheat, or rye?

4. CanadaUSabbreviationcountableellipsisuncountableEllipsis of rye whiskey, whiskey made mainly or wholly from rye grain.First known use 19th c.

   He likes any whiskey, but his favorite is rye.

   3 more examples

   “Gimme a shot of rye.” The whiskey stung his throat hot and fragrant.

   1925, John Dos Passos, Manhattan Transfer, New York, N.Y.; London: Harper & Brothers, →OCLC, 2nd section, page 146

   I bought a pint of rye at the liquor counter and carried it over to the stools and set it down on the cracked marble counter.

   1939, Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep, Penguin, published 2011, page 159

   Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey ’n rye/Singin’, "This’ll be the day that I die."

   1971, “American Pie”, in American Pie, performed by Don McLean

5. CanadaUScountableA drink (serving) of rye whiskey.

   I'll have a rye, neat, please.

   1 more example

   It concerns the gnomelike quality of the average American at a party. I have been to many parties where staid American business men have been transformed by a few ryes or bourbons into unpredictable gremlins out for adventure.

   1946, George Johnston, Skyscrapers in the Mist, page 17

6. broadlycountableproscribedsometimesuncountableCaraway (from the mistaken assumption that the whole seeds, often used to season rye bread, are the rye itself)
7. broadlycountableproscribedsometimesuncountableRyegrass, any of the species of Lolium.
8. countableuncountableA disease of hawks.

   Of all the diseases that belongs to these Hawkes, there bee onely three that they bee most subiect vnto, which is the Rye, the Crampe, and the Craye.

   1618, Symon Latham, Latham's Falconry

   1 more example

   And if it [vndeꝛ the peꝛch] be grene ſhe engenderith the Ry. The condicion of this euell is this, it wil ariſe in the hede and make the hede to ſwell, ⁊ the iyen all glaymous, and dyrke, and bot it haue helpe: it will downe in to the legges, and maake the legges to rancle, and if it goo fro the legges in to the hede a gayne, thi hawke is bot looſt.

   1486, Juliana Berners, Book of Saint Albans

9. countableuncountablegypsy slangA young man.

   The Rye is my uncle, Hans Breitmann, Mr. Leland, whom all the Romanies know. His gipsy lore was great; […]

   1893, Elizabeth Robins Pennell, To Gipsyland, page 2

alternative Reay

1. A small town and civil parish in Rother district, East Sussex, England (OS grid ref TQ9220).
2. A hamlet in Odiham parish, Hart district, Hampshire, England (OS grid ref SU7750).
3. A river in North Yorkshire, England, that flows through Ryedale to join the Derwent.
4. A commune in Jura department, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France.
5. A number of places in the United States:
   1. An unincorporated community and census-designated place in Gila County, Arizona.
   2. A census-designated place in Cleveland County, Arkansas.
   3. A small statutory town in Pueblo County, Colorado.
   4. An unincorporated community in Manatee County, Florida.
   5. A ghost town in Adair County, Missouri.
   6. A town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
   7. A coastal suburban city in Westchester County, New York.
   8. A large town in Westchester County, New York.
6. A coastal suburb in the Shire of Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia.
7. A surname.
8. A nickname of the given name Ryan.