zeanoun
Factsheet
What does the noun zea mean?
There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun zea, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
How common is the noun zea?
| 1750 | 0.23 |
| 1760 | 0.22 |
| 1770 | 0.21 |
| 1780 | 0.21 |
| 1790 | 0.2 |
| 1800 | 0.17 |
| 1810 | 0.16 |
| 1820 | 0.13 |
| 1830 | 0.11 |
| 1840 | 0.089 |
| 1850 | 0.065 |
| 1860 | 0.049 |
| 1870 | 0.041 |
| 1880 | 0.031 |
| 1890 | 0.023 |
| 1900 | 0.02 |
| 1910 | 0.017 |
| 1920 | 0.015 |
| 1930 | 0.017 |
| 1940 | 0.023 |
| 1950 | 0.038 |
| 1960 | 0.053 |
| 1970 | 0.056 |
| 1980 | 0.059 |
| 1990 | 0.066 |
| 2000 | 0.074 |
| 2010 | 0.078 |
How is the noun zea pronounced?
British English
U.S. English
Where does the noun zea come from?
Earliest known use
mid 1500s
The earliest known use of the noun zea is in the mid 1500s.
OED's earliest evidence for zea is from 1562, in the writing of William Turner, naturalist and religious controversialist.
zea is a borrowing from Latin.
Etymons: Latin zea.
Nearby entries
- zayde, n.1946–
- zazen, n.1727–
- zazzy, adj.1961–
- Z band, n.1950–
- ZBB, n.1976–
- Z-bed, n.1973–
- Z-car, n.1961–
- Z-day, n.1925–
- Z-DNA, n.1979–
- ze, pron.1864–
- zea, n.1562–
- zeagonite, n.1823–
- zeal, n.a1382–
- zeal, v.1542–1687
- Zealander, n.¹1663–
- Zealander, n.²1773–
- Zealandic, adj.1807–
- Zealandish, adj.1684–
- zealator, n.a1464–
- zeal-blind, adj.1615–1898
- zeal-consuming, adj.1629–1882
Etymology
Summary
Meaning & use
- 1.1562–1849† The grain spelt, Triticum aestivum spelta. Obsolete.
- 1562
There are two kindes of zea whereof the one is called single and the other two cornes because it hath the sede ioyned together in two chaffy coueringes.
W. Turner, 2nd Part Herball f. 131v - 1577
Next to Wheate and Barley, foloweth Zea [Latin Zea].
B. Googe, translation of C. Heresbach, Foure Bookes of Husbandry i. f. 29 - 1611
Bled leger, Spelt or Zea; a corne which makes light and sauorie..bread.
R. Cotgrave, Dictionarie of French & English Tongues - 1662
Take wheat flour, or of Zea, or Maizi; (which are outlandish grain privatly commended) or crums of Bread.
translation of F. Plater et al. Golden Pract. Physick (new edition) ii. xvii. 422/2 - 1728
The Ear is sharply bearded like Barley, whose Grains or Corns being enclosed in chaffy Husks, like unto Zea, are, when cleansed, like unto Wheat.
R. Bradley, Dictionarium Botanicum at Triticum sive Olyra - 1771
Zea, or spelt corn..seems to be a species between wheat and barley.
M. Peters, Winter Riches viii. 229 (heading) - 1800
These, with their zea (bread), onions, melons, dates, and other delicious fruits, composed the standing dishes of the food of the Egyptians.
J. Franklin, Hist. Ancient & Modern Egypt vol. I. v. 360 - 1849
They comprise, among other kinds, the species called zea or far, Bengal wheat, starch wheat, and one-grained wheat.
J. M. Wilson, Rural Cyclopedia vol. IV. 676/1
the world plants particular plants cultivated or valued plants particular food plant or plant product cereal, corn, or grain [nouns] wheat types of wheat grain or plant- speltOld English–A species of wheat, Triticum spelta, once much cultivated in Europe and the Middle East until superseded by common wheat (T. aestivum), but now…
- farc1420–A coarse kind of wheat; spelt.
- ador?1440= spelt, n.¹ 1
- English wheat?1523–Wheat of a type originating or grown in England; spec. cone wheat, Triticum turgidum, which was formerly the main variety grown in southern England.
- flaxen wheat?1523–Of the colour of dressed flax: chiefly in reference to the hair. †flaxen wheat (see quots.).
- Peak-wheat?1523A poor variety of wheat.
- red wheat?1523–Any of numerous varieties of wheat with reddish grains, of varying degrees of hardness.
- white wheat?1523–Any variety of wheat with light-coloured grains; cf. red wheat, n.
- duck-bill wheat1553–Red wheat; more fully duck-bill wheat.
- zea1562–1849The grain spelt, Triticum aestivum spelta. Obsolete.
- alica1565–Hulled grain, esp. of spelt or emmer wheat; a broth or gruel made by boiling this.
- buck1577–1808= buckwheat, n.
- amelcorn1578–Any of several types or varieties of awned wheat having a high starch content, esp. the primitive wheat emmer, Triticum turgidum dicoccum. Cf. bea…
- bearded wheat1578–Any of several varieties of awned wheat; esp. rivet, Triticum turgidum turgidum.
- horse-flower1578A species of Cow-wheat (Melampyrum arvense).
- tiphe1578–1790A species of wheat having the ripe ear laterally compressed, the spikelets in two very compact rows, each containing, as a rule, one grain. Also…
- pollard1580–1790Awnless wheat. Cf. sense A.1. Obsolete.
- rivet1580–Any of several varieties of the wheat Triticum turgidum. Cf. cone-wheat, n. In singular. More fully rivet wheat.
- Saracen's corn1585–Sorghum vulgare; also = Saracen corn, n. or buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum.
- French wheat1593–= buckwheat, n. 1a.
- Lammas-wheat1594–= winter wheat.
- starch corn1597–a. Any variety of wheat, barley, or rye having a high content of starch, esp. a starch wheat (cf. amelcorn, n. and wheat-starch, n.) (now rare); b…
- St. Peter's corn1597–1884In the genitive. Einkorn, Triticum monococcum.
- frumenty1600–01A kind of wheat or spelt. Obsolete.
- secourgeon1600–88= amelcorn, n., an inferior variety of wheat.
- polwheat1601(Usually pol-.) In the names of awnless varieties of cereal, as polbarley, polbere, polwheat. Obsolete.
- duck-wheat1611–= duck-bill wheat at duck-bill, n. a.
- kidneys of wheat1611–73An imperfect reproduction of the Scriptural expression ‘fat of kidneys of wheat’ Deuteronomy xxxii, 14: cf. Psalm cxlvii. 14 ‘the fat of wheat’…
- ograve wheat1616A variety of wheat (not identified).
- soft wheat1640–†a. A primitive type of wheat, probably emmer (obsolete rare); b. wheat having soft or mealy endosperm and a high content of starch; a variety of…
- cone-wheat1677–A bearded variety of wheat (so called, according to Lowe (Pract. Agric. 324) from the conical form of the spike). Also cone simply, and cones.
- Lammas1677Short for Lammas-wheat, n. Obsolete.
- Poland wheat1686–= Polish wheat, n.
- Saracen corn1687–Buckwheat (see sarrasin, n.).
- pole rivet1707–Bearded wheat.
- French rice1713–1879A variety of wheat; = amelcorn, n.
- Smyrna wheat1735–The chief port of Asia Minor, situated at the head of the gulf of the same name, used attributively in the names of various things produced in the…
- hard wheat1757–Wheat of any variety having a hard grain rich in gluten, used esp. to make bread.
- clog wheat1763–Any of several varieties of bearded wheat.
- hen corn1765–1928(Originally) wheat of an inferior grade or type; (in later use) wheat used to feed poultry.
- velvet wheat1771–A variety of white wheat with downy ears.
- white straw1771–a. adj. = white-strawed, adj.; †b. n. a white-strawed variety of wheat (obsolete).
- starch wheat1789–Any type or variety of wheat that is rich in starch; esp. either of the primitive wheats emmer and spelt; cf. starch corn (a).
- nonpareil1805A variety of wheat. Obsolete. rare.
- thick-set wheat1808–thick-set wheat: see quot. 1808.
- bluestem1818–Any of various grasses with bluish-green stems; esp. (a) a variety of wheat (frequently attributive, esp. in bluestem wheat); (b) (more fully bluestem…
- cone1826–Short for cone-wheat, n.
- bread wheat1828–Wheat that is primarily used to produce flour for baking; esp. common wheat, Triticum aestivum.
- farro1828–The hulled grains of any of several types of wheat, spec. emmer, spelt, and einkorn, typically used in salads, soups, etc. Also: a plant producing…
- Polish wheat1832–The cereal Triticum polonicum, an allotetraploid wheat of the Polonicum group that is now little grown.
- velvet-ear wheat1837–= velvet wheat, n.
- sarrasin1840–Buckwheat.
- club wheat1841–A subspecies of common wheat having compact ears with a short rachis, Triticum aestivum compactum.
- mummy wheat1842–A kind of wheat said to have been grown from seed found in Egyptian tombs, (perhaps) rivet wheat, Triticum turgidum.
- snowdrop1844–Used as a name for a variety of wheat or potato.
- Red Fife1857–A high-quality, rust-resistant variety of spring wheat, probably originally of Ukrainian origin, popularized in Canada in the second half of the…
- flint-wheat1859–(See quot.).
- dinkel1866–A species of wheat, Triticum spelta.
- thick-set1875–Short for thick-set wheat at sense A.3b.
- spring1884–Spring wheat (see spring wheat, n.); a variety of this.
- macaroni wheat1901–Durum wheat, Triticum durum.
- einkorn1904–An inferior species of wheat, Triticum monococcum.
- marquis1906–In form Marquis. A North American variety of spring wheat. Also in Marquis wheat.
- durum1908–In full durum wheat. A species of wheat, Triticum durum, or one of its varieties, characterized by hard seeds rich in gluten and yielding a flour…
- emmer1908–A species of wheat, Triticum dicoccum. Also attributive.
- hedgehog wheat1909–A race of hardy dwarf wheats, grown in mountainous districts of Europe, having dense short ears and awned glumes.
- speltoid1920–A wheat plant (Triticum aestivum) having certain characteristics of a spelt plant (T. spelta). Cf. sense A
- 2.1760–A cereal grass of the genus Zea; spec. maize, Z. mays; the seeds of such a plant collectively. Also (in form Zea): the genus itself.
- 1760
In respect to length, it may be Filiform, Thread-like, as in Zea; or as long as the Style, as in Genipa.
J. Lee, Introduction to Botany i. xiv. 37 - 1787
Zéa... Indian, or Turkey Wheat.
E. Darwin et al., translation of C. Linnaeus et al. Families of Plants vol. II. 633 - 1808
I turned him loose in the green-house, and fed him with corn, (zea, maize).
W. Bartram in A. Wilson, American Ornithology vol. I. 16 - 1891
Upon a wild Species of Zea from Mexico.
Proceedings of American Academy of Arts & Sciences 1890–1 vol. 26 158 (heading) - 1918
This is considered evidence that Zea is a hybrid between the two extremes.
Bulletin Torrey Botanical Club vol. 45 329 - 1969
Zea is a robust, erect annual grass.
S. A. Matz, Cereal Science ii. 49 - 2010
Pollen researchers distinguish Zea from other grass genera on the basis of the maximum length diameter of the grain.
J. E. Staller, Maize Cobs & Cultures iv. 190
the world plants particular plants cultivated or valued plants particular food plant or plant product cereal, corn, or grain [nouns] maize maize plants- maize1541–A cereal grass of Central American origin, Zea mays, having a terminal male inflorescence (the tassel) and axillary female flowers that form starchy…
- Indian wheat1578–Corn (maize), Zea mays; the grain of this plant; = Indian corn, n.
- Guinea wheat1598–1688An old name of corn (maize).
- corn1608–Originally U.S. Maize, Zea Mays; applied both to the separated seeds, and to the growing or reaped crop. corn on the cob: green maize suitable…
- sweet corn1646–A sweet-flavoured variety of maize.
- Virginia wheat1651–
- soft corn1751–Originally: moisture-rich maize kernels, esp. from cobs harvested before full maturity. In later use also: maize kernels which lack horny…
- zea1760–A cereal grass of the genus Zea; spec. maize, Z. mays; the seeds of such a plant collectively. Also (in form Zea): the genus itself.
- field corn1808–Any of various kinds of maize with a relatively low sugar content, grown principally as animal food or for processing rather than for eating as a…
- popcorn1838–A variety of maize, the dried kernels of which swell up and burst open with a small explosive sound when heated.
- pod corn1884–A primitive variety of maize, Zea mays var. tunicata, in which each kernel is enclosed in glumes.
- pod maize1904–= pod corn, n.
Pronunciation
British English
U.S. English
Consonants
- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing
Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence
Vowels
- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)
Other symbols
- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.
View the pronunciation model here.
Consonants
- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing
* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in
Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence
Vowels
- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)
Other symbols
- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.
View the pronunciation model here.
Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.
Consonants
b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values
- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige
Vowels
- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot
Frequency
zea typically occurs about 0.07 times per million words in modern written English.
zea is in frequency band 3, which contains words occurring between 0.01 and 0.1 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands
Frequency of zea, n., 1750–2010
* Occurrences per million words in written English
Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.
The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.
For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.
Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.
| Decade | Frequency per million words |
|---|---|
| 1750 | 0.23 |
| 1760 | 0.22 |
| 1770 | 0.21 |
| 1780 | 0.21 |
| 1790 | 0.2 |
| 1800 | 0.17 |
| 1810 | 0.16 |
| 1820 | 0.13 |
| 1830 | 0.11 |
| 1840 | 0.089 |
| 1850 | 0.065 |
| 1860 | 0.049 |
| 1870 | 0.041 |
| 1880 | 0.031 |
| 1890 | 0.023 |
| 1900 | 0.02 |
| 1910 | 0.017 |
| 1920 | 0.015 |
| 1930 | 0.017 |
| 1940 | 0.023 |
| 1950 | 0.038 |
| 1960 | 0.053 |
| 1970 | 0.056 |
| 1980 | 0.059 |
| 1990 | 0.066 |
| 2000 | 0.074 |
| 2010 | 0.078 |
Compounds & derived words
- zea maize, n. 1811–Maize, Zea mays; (also) the seeds of this plant…
- zein, n. 1820–The principal protein of maize, used in the…
- zeatin, n. 1963–A plant hormone (a cytokinin) first isolated from…
- zearalenone, n. 1966–An oestrogenic compound which is a metabolic…