Crossword clues for darnel
The Collaborative International Dictionary
darnel \dar"nel\ (d[a^]r"n[e^]l), n. [OE. darnel, dernel, of uncertain origin; cf. dial. F. darnelle, Sw. d[*a]r-repe; perh. named from a supposed intoxicating quality of the plant, and akin to Sw. d[*a]ra to infatuate, OD. door foolish, G. thor fool, and Ee. dizzy.] (Bot.) Any grass of the genus Lolium, esp. the Lolium temulentum (bearded darnel), the grains of which have been reputed poisonous. Other species, as Lolium perenne (rye grass or ray grass), and its variety Lolium Italicum (Italian rye grass), are highly esteemed for pasture and for making hay.
Note: Under darnel our early herbalists comprehended all
kinds of cornfield weeds.
--Dr. Prior.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
weed growing in grainfields, c.1300, from northern dialectal French darnelle; according to one theory, the the second element is Old French neelle (Modern French nielle) "cockle," from Vulgar Latin nigella "black-seeded," from fem. of Latin nigellus "blackish."\n
\nBut perhaps rather the word is related to Middle Dutch verdaernt, verdarnt "stunned, dumbfounded, angry," Walloon darne, derne "stunned, dazed, drunk," the plant so called from its well-known inebriating property. Long noted for its "poisonous" properties (actually caused by fungus growing on the plant); The French word for it is ivraie, from Latin ebriacus "intoxicated," and the botanical name, Lolium temulentum, is from Latin temulent "drunken," though this sometimes is said to be "from the heavy seed heads lolling over under their own weight."\n\nIn some parts of continental Europe it appears the seeds of darnel have the reputation of causing intoxication in men, beasts, and birds, the effects being sometimes so violent as to produce convulsions. In Scotland the name of Sleepies, is applied to darnel, from the seeds causing narcotic effects.
[Gouverneur Emerson, "The American Farmer's Encyclopedia," New York, 1860. It also mentions that "Haller speaks of them as communicating these properties to beer."]
Wiktionary
n. 1 A species of ryegrass, ''Lolium temulentum'', often found in wheat fields and often host to a fungus intoxicating to humans and animals. 2 Various species of ''Lolium'', especially as a weed in wheat fields.
WordNet
n. weedy annual grass often occurs in grainfields and other cultivated land; seeds sometimes considered poisonous [syn: tare, bearded darnel, cheat, Lolium temulentum]
Usage examples of "darnel".
The lynk was at the bottom of the slope beneath an apple tree ferned over with tiny blossoms of ivray and darnel.
The Bearded Darnel, a common grass weed in English cornfields, is easily distinguished by its long glumes or awns and turgid, fruiting pales, containing the large grains, from the common Ray or Rye-grass (Lolium perenne), which is one of the best of the cultivated grasses, peculiarly adapted for both hay and pasture, especially in wet or uncertain climates.
So long then as the poor man hath to sell, rich men bring out none, but rather buy up that which the poor bring, under pretence of seed corn or alteration of grain, although they bring none of their own, because one wheat often sown without change of seed will soon decay and be converted into darnel.
Lindley in his Vegetable Kingdom takes the latter view, stating moreover, 'this is the only authentic instance of unwholesome qualities in the order of grasses,' and Professor Henslow considers too that as the use of Darnel in the sixteenth century was similar to that of Ergot - a diseased condition of the grain of Rye - it is more probable that the injurious nature of Darnel has been due to an ergotized condition, especially as experiments have shown that perfectly healthy Darnel seeds have no injurious effects.