Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵerh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-nóm Proto-Indo-European *ǵr̥h₂-nós Proto-Indo-European *ǵr̥h₂nóm Proto-Germanic *kurną Proto-West Germanic *korn Old English corn Middle English corn English corn Inherited from Middle English corn, from Old English corn, from Proto-West Germanic *korn, from Proto-Germanic *kurną, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵr̥h₂nóm (“grain; worn-down”), from *ǵerh₂- (“grow old, mature”). Cognate with Dutch koren, German Low German Koorn, German Korn, Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish korn; see also Albanian grurë, Russian зерно́ (zernó), Czech zrno, Latin grānum and Lithuanian žirnis. Doublet of grain, gram, granum, and grao. The sense maize (Zea mays) is an ellipsis of Indian corn that developed in 18th century North America.
Commonwealth, Usually Any cereal plant (or its grain) that is the main crop or staple of a country or region.
But not Australia or New Zealand
And hee ſaid, Beholde, I haue heard that there is corne in Egypt: get you downe thither and buy for vs from thence, that we may liue, and not die.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 42:2, column 2:
Among the divinities that dwelt on Mount Olympus, none was more friendly to the husbandman than Demeter, goddess of corn.1847, John Mason Neale, Stories from heathen mythology and Greek history, page 115:
3 more examples
Moreover, however much the individual manufacturer might give the rein to his old lust for gain, the spokesmen and political leaders of the manufacturing class ordered a change of front and of speech towards the workpeople. They had entered upon the contest for the repeal of the Corn Laws, and needed the workers to help them to victory. They promised, therefore, not only a double-sized loaf of bread, but the enactment of the Ten Hours' Bill in the Free Trade millenium.1887, Karl Marx, “The Working Day”, in Samuel Moore and Edward Aveling, transl., edited by Frederick [i.e., Friedrich] Engels, Capital: A Critical Analysis of Capitalist Production: Translated from the Third German Edition, volume I, London: Swan Sonnenschein, Lowrey, & Co., […], →OCLC, part III (The Production of Absolute Surplus-value), section 6 (The Struggle for the Normal Working Day. […]), page 267:
[T]here exists arguments in favour of regarding one of the eatable varieties of "leaven," Machmetzeth, as the beer of the Hebrews. The mention of beer by the Egyptians is frequent; under the name of Hek, two intoxicating beverages are included. The components of these beers, individually, are not known: one was made from corn, the other was a medicated or sweetened beer, due to the addition of honey, or system of brewing.1887, James Death, The Beer of the Bible: One of the Hitherto Unknown Leavens of Exodus. […], page 12:
I found that we had nearly a hundred bushels of corn, including wheat, maize, and barley, to add to our store.1909, Johann David Wyss (Susannah Mary Paull, translator), The Swiss Family Robinson, page 462:
The planting or sowing of maize, exclusively called corn, was just accomplished on the Town Hill, when I reached it.1809, Edward Augustus Kendall, Travels Through the Northern Parts of the United States:
Corn was the staff of life for many Indian people before contact, and it became the staff of life for many European colonists. Corn was higher in nutrition than most other grain crops. John Lawson, who travelled in South Carolina and into the interior Indian country in 1701, was one of the many colonists who sang the praises of corn.1998 February 18, Colin G. Calloway, New Worlds for All: Indians, Europeans, and the Remaking of Early America, JHU Press, →ISBN, pages 51–52:
3
Usually A grain or seed, especially of a cereal crop.
He paid her the nominal fee of two corns of barley.
Verely, verely, I ſay vnto you, Except a corne of wheat fall into the ground, and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, John 12:24, column 2:
4
Usually A small, hard particle.
The least corn of sand is not so small to the whole earth, as man is to the heaven:[…]1612–1626, Joseph Hall, “[Contemplations upon the Principal Passages in the Holy Story. Book I.] Of Man.”, in Josiah Pratt, editor, The Works of the Right Reverend Father in God, Joseph Hall, D.D. […], volume I (Contemplations), London: […] C[harles] Whittingham, […]; for Williams and Smith, […], published 1808, →OCLC, part IV (Contemplations on the Old Testament), page 8:
corns of powder1852, Thomas Antisell, Hand-book of the Useful Arts:
5
Usually A type of granular snow formed by repeated melting and refreezing, often in mountain spring conditions.
R.I.P Scumpy ah you did say Popcaan And if a boy diss we clap corn.2014 June 9, Andrae Hugh Sutherland respectively Popcaan of Popcaan, “Where We Come From” (track 13), in Where We Come From:
We got spinners and dotties We got .40s and MACs We got nuff live corn […] See the four-door pausing Skengs out, everyone runnin But the corn just slapped and floored em 50 shots in that mop2016 September 9, Liquez respectively Dimzy of 67, “Jump Out Gang” (track 7), in Let’s Lurk:
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵerh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-nóm Proto-Indo-European *ǵr̥h₂-nós Proto-Indo-European *ǵr̥h₂nóm Proto-Germanic *kurną Proto-West Germanic *korn Old English corn Middle English corn English corn Inherited from Middle English corn, from Old English corn, from Proto-West Germanic *korn, from Proto-Germanic *kurną, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵr̥h₂nóm (“grain; worn-down”), from *ǵerh₂- (“grow old, mature”). Cognate with Dutch koren, German Low German Koorn, German Korn, Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish korn; see also Albanian grurë, Russian зерно́ (zernó), Czech zrno, Latin grānum and Lithuanian žirnis. Doublet of grain, gram, granum, and grao. The sense maize (Zea mays) is an ellipsis of Indian corn that developed in 18th century North America.
1
Canada, US To granulate; to form (a substance) into grains.
to corn gunpowder
2
Canada, US To preserve using coarse salt, e.g. corned beef.
3
Canada, US To provide (an animal) with corn (typically maize; or, in Scotland, oats) for feed.
Anywhere, anytime, I'll get him, if he's in love; I'll corn his wedding He backed his wetter, I backed my wetter but who really held that wetting?2019 September 11, Yanko, “Next Up”, in #ACGK, 1:49:
corn
noun
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱer- Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ ? Proto-Indo-European *ḱerh₂-der. Proto-Italic *kornū Latin cornū̆ Latin cornua Vulgar Latin *corna Old French cornebor. Middle English corne English cornInherited from Middle English corne, from Old French corn (modern French cor), from Latin cornū. Doublet of corno, cornu, and horn.
1
A type of callus, usually on the feet or hands.
Welcome Gentlemen, / Ladies that haue their toes / Vnplagu’d with Cornes, will walke about with you:[…]c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v], page 57, column 2:
Canada, US Something (e.g., acting, humour, music, or writing) which is deemed old-fashioned or intended to induce emotion.
He had a sharp wit, true enough, but also a good, healthy mountaineer's love of pure corn, the slapstick stuff, the in-jokes that get funnier with every repetition and never amuse anybody who wasn't there.1975, Tschirlie, Backpacker:
There were lots of jokes on the show and they were pure corn, but the audience didn't mind.1986, Linda Martin, Kerry Segrave, Women in Comedy:
1 more example
The bulk of this humor was pure corn, but as hillbilly material it was meant to be that way.2007, Bob L. Cox, Fiddlin' Charlie Bowman: an East Tennessee old-time music pioneer and his musical family: