cattail millet
- noun
:
mijo de seda de agua
- Farmers in parts of India rely on cattail millet as a dependable source of food and fodder.
Examples
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Some traditional African beers are made using the grain of cattail millet.
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The cylindrical spikes of cattail millet are easily recognizable during harvest season.
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The farmer planted cattail millet this spring.
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Many animals thrive on cattail millet as forage.
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Farmers in parts of India rely on cattail millet as a dependable source of food and fodder.
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Some traditional African beers are made using the grain of cattail millet.
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Many animals thrive on cattail millet as forage.
Synonyms
8
4.3
A small grain from a grass plant used as food for people and animals
A tall grass grown for grain and animal feed in dry regions
A tall grass from Africa and Asia grown for grain, animal feed, and brewing
A tall grass grown for grain used for food, animal feed and making beer
A tall grass grown in dry areas for its edible grain, animal feed, and brewing
A tall grass grown in Africa for food for people and animals
A grass plant that tolerates drought and is grown for small seeds and animal feed
A rough grass that grows in dry places and is grown for grain and animal feed
A type of foxtail millet with large hanging seed heads and yellow grains
A plant with yellow grains and large hanging seed heads grown for food and animal feed
A grass that grows once a year for its grain and is used as animal feed
A rough grass grown each year for grain or animal feed that grows well in dry soil
A small grain plant grown for food and animal feed
A coarse grass grown each year for grain and to feed animals
A rough grass people grow each year for its seeds and animal feed
A grain plant with yellow seeds in large hanging spikes
A plant that grows in dry regions and has seeds used to make a somewhat bitter flour
A cereal plant from Asia and Africa with small seeds used to make flour
A grass that grows in dry areas and farmers grow for animal feed or grain
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is directly descriptive: 'cattail' (a tall plant with cylindrical spikes) combined with 'millet' (a small-seeded grass) yields a millet characterized by cattail-like spikes. This is a compositional, non-idiomatic botanical name that a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reasonably infer.
Etymology
Cattail millet gets its name from the plant's thick, tail-like spikes that look like a cattail and a cat's tail. Because the grain of this tall millet grows on those tail-like spikes, people began to call the crop 'cattail millet', so the name now means a grass grown for 'food' and 'animal feed'.