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straw |
4 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Straw \Straw\, v. t. To spread or scatter. See {Strew}, and {Strow}. --Chaucer. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Straw \Straw\, n. [OE. straw, stre, stree, AS stre['a]w, from the root of E. strew; akin to OFries str[=e], D. stroo, G. stroh, OHG. str[=o], Icel. str[=a], Dan. straa, Sw str[*a]. [root]166. See {Strew}.] 1. A stalk or stem of certain species of grain, pulse, etc., especially of wheat, rye, oats, barley, more rarely of buckwheat, beans, and pease. 2. The gathered and thrashed stalks of certain species of grain, etc.; as a bundle, or a load, of rye straw. 3. Anything proverbially worthless; the least possible thing a mere trifle. I set not a straw by thy dreamings. --Chaucer. Note: Straw is often used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as straw-built, straw-crowned, straw-roofed, straw-stuffed, and the like {Man of straw}, an effigy formed by stuffing the garments of a man with straw; hence a fictitious person; an irresponsible person; a puppet. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: straw adj : of a pale yellow color like straw; straw colored n 1: used for e.g. baskets and hats or as fodder 2: material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds [syn: {chaff}, {husk}, {shuck}, {stalk}, {stubble}] v 1: cover or provide with or as if with straw; "cows were strawed to weather the snowstorm" 2: spread by scattering; "strew toys all over the carpet" ("straw" is archaic) [syn: {strew}] From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: Straw Used in brick-making (Ex. 5:7-18). Used figuratively in Job 41:27; Isa. 11:7; 25:10; 65:25.
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