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countable and uncountable, plural ryes
A grain used extensively in Europe for making bread, beer, and (now generally) for animal fodder. examples
The grass Secale cereale from which the grain is obtained. examples
Rye bread. examples
(US, Canada) Rye whiskey. quotations 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, 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
(US, Canada) A drink of rye. quotations examples
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
Caraway (from the mistaken assumption that the whole seeds, often used to season rye bread, are the rye itself) examples
Ryegrass, any of the species of Lolium. examples
A disease of hawks. quotations examples
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
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