Rye (?), n. [OE. rie, reie, AS. ryge; akin to Icel. rugr, Sw. r�x86;g, Dan. rug, D. rogge, OHG. rocco, roggo, G. rocken, roggen, Lith. rugei, Russ. roje, and perh. To Gr. 'o`ryza rice. Cf. Rice.]
1. Bot.
A grain yielded by a hardy cereal grass (Secale cereale), closely allied to wheat; also, the plant itself. Rye constitutes a large portion of the breadstuff used by man.
2.
A disease in a hawk.
Ainsworth.
Rye grass, Italian rye grass, Bot. See under Grass. See also Ray grass, and Darnel. -- Wild rye Bot., any plant of the genus Elymus, tall grasses with much the appearance of rye.
© Webster 1913.