bulrush millet
- noun
- US
- The grain from bulrush millet is a traditional food staple in parts of Africa.
Examples
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Farmers in arid regions grow bulrush millet because it thrives in dry conditions.
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Some African beers are brewed using fermented bulrush millet.
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Farmers grow bulrush millet for its nutritious grain.
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Many livestock owners feed their animals bulrush millet.
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Farmers in arid regions grow bulrush millet because it thrives in dry conditions.
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The grain from bulrush millet is a traditional food staple in parts of Africa.
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Some African beers are brewed using fermented bulrush millet.
Synonyms
A small grain from a grass plant used as food for people and animals
A tall grass grown for grain used for food, animal feed and making beer
A tall grass from Africa and Asia grown for grain, animal feed, and brewing
A tall grass grown for grain and animal feed in dry regions
A tall grass with thick round seed heads that farmers grow for grain and animal food
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'bulrush' modifies 'millet', indicating a type of millet associated with or resembling bulrush. A B1 learner who knows 'bulrush' (tall marsh plant) and 'millet' (a small-seeded grass) can reasonably infer this is a particular kind of millet, following common noun-compound patterns found cross-linguistically.
Etymology
Bulrush millet gets its name from the plant's look and use, because it grows like a tall bulrush, a reed by water, but gives small grains like millet that people eat or use as animal feed. So the name helps you remember it is a tall grass grown for 'food' and 'animal feed'.