rhizoverbBeta
DictionarystrawDried plant stalks
noun / adjective

straw

STRAW/strɔː/

A dry grain stalk.

Dry straw stalks lie bundled beside loose bedding on the barn floor.

A golden bundle of dried wheat straw stalks lies beside loose scattered bedding in a barn, hollow dry stems clearly visible.
Etymology
strawOld Englishdried grain stalks

Old English streaw named dried grain stalks and apparently meant “that which is strewn,” perhaps referring to stalks spread over floors as bedding or carpeting.

In context

Medieval Way5:33
The straw they used was old bedding straw hauled out of the animal sheds, already churned together with manure
What Was Wattle and Daub? The Mud-and-Stick Wall That Stood 600 Years

More examples

  • A few dry straws cling to the sheep's wool.
  • Her straw hat keeps the sun off her face.
  • Another canceled appointment is the last straw for me.

Forms

straw · straws

Similar words

stalk
Names a plant's supporting stem, whether green or dry.
hay
Dried grass used mainly as feed, rather than grain stems.