Revised 2021
† zizanynoun
Factsheet
What does the noun zizany mean?
There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun zizany. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
This word is now obsolete. It is last recorded around the 1800s.
Where does the noun zizany come from?
Earliest known use
Middle English
The earliest known use of the noun zizany is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).
OED's earliest evidence for zizany is from before 1400, in Cursor Mundi: a Northumbrian poem of the 14th century.
zizany is a borrowing from French.
Etymons: French zizanie.
Nearby entries
- zither, n.1831–
- zither, v.1889–
- zither banjo, n.1888–
- zithering, adj.1889–
- zitherist, n.1866–
- zither-like, adj.1881–
- ziti, n.1845–
- zitty, adj.1971–
- Ziv, n.a1382–
- zizania, n.1526–
- zizany, n.a1400–1803
- zizel, n.1775–
- zizypha, n.1546–1775
- zizyphus, n.?1440–
- zizz, v.1883–
- zizz, int. & n.1824–
- zizzing, n.1884–
- zizzing, adj.1919–
- zizzy, adj.1843–
- Zlid, n.1616–1785
- Z'life, n.1689
Etymology
Summary
A borrowing from French.
Etymon: French zizanie.
< Anglo-Norman and Middle French zizanie harmful weed (13th cent. in Old French; 14th cent. in figurative use), plant of the genus Zizania (1823) < post-classical Latin zizania (feminine singular…
< Anglo-Norman and Middle French zizanie harmful weed (13th cent. in Old French; 14th cent. in figurative use), plant of the genus Zizania (1823) < post-classical Latin zizania (feminine singular) harmful weed (Vetus Latina and Vulgate), also in figurative use (4th cent.), reinterpretation of zizania, neuter plural (Vetus Latina and Vulgate; also (rare) zizanium, singular) < Hellenistic Greek ζιζάνια, plural of ζιζάνιον weed that grows in wheat < a loanword (perhaps ultimately < Sumerian ziz2 emmer wheat) + ‑ιον, suffix forming nouns; compare ‑y suffix3, ‑y suffix4.Compare zizania n.
Meaning & use
Obsolete.
- 1.a1400–1789A weed that grows among wheat; tares, darnel; = zizania n. 1. Also figurative: a pernicious influence or unwanted element; cf. tare n.1 3.
- a1400 (a1325)
Þi wete sal bi-com ȝiȝanny [Göttingen MS. ȝiȝannije, Fairfax MS. darnel].
Cursor Mundi (Vespasian MS.) l. 1138[Composed a1325] - c1425
Recipe semen iusquiamus, ȝiȝannie, i. darnel.
translation of J. Arderne, Treatises of Fistula (Sloane MS. 6) (1910) 100 - ?1533
Zizany, droe.
G. Du Wes, Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Dii - 1581
To desaue ye varld to sau zizanie and pernicious heresie in mennis hartis.
J. Hamilton, Catholik Traictise Epist. f. 3 - 1602
Nether go I about thus pointing out the rycht vay, as your enemie to sau zizanie vithin your feild vhillas you be à sleap.
J. Colville, Parænese sig. ĩij - a1706
Many holy and excellent persons God has dispersed, as wheat among the tares and zizany.
J. Evelyn, History of Religion (1850) vol. II. xii. 314 - 1789
There is zizanie between the D. of Portland, Fox, and Sheridan.
T. Jefferson, Letter 22 January in Papers (1958) vol. XIV. 482
- zizanya1400–1789A weed that grows among wheat; tares, darnel; = zizania, n. 1. Also figurative: a pernicious influence or unwanted element; cf. tare, n.¹ 3.
- taresa1425–plural. Used in the later Wycliffite (or Purvey) version of the New Testament (Matthew xiii. 25), also in some manuscripts of the earlier text, and…
- titter1573–1643A kind of weed found in cornfields (perhaps a vetch or tare).
- furrow-weed1608–A weed that grows on the ‘furrow’ or ploughed land.
- zizania1756–Botany. An aquatic grass of the genus Zizania; wild rice. Also (in form Zizania): the genus itself.
- walder1764–Some weed found abundantly in cornfields.
the world plants particular plants plants perceived as weeds or harmful plants weed [nouns] other weeds- zizanya1400–1789A weed that grows among wheat; tares, darnel; = zizania, n. 1. Also figurative: a pernicious influence or unwanted element; cf. tare, n.¹ 3.
- hog's fennel1525–Any of several plants having finely divided leaves like those of fennel; spec. (a) a plant of the genus Peucedanum (family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae))…
- zizania1526–1809A weed that grows among wheat; tares, darnel; = zizany, n. 1. Also figurative: a pernicious influence or unwanted element; cf. tare, n.¹ 3. Obsolete.
- eyebright1578–Any of several related plants, esp. red bartsia, Odontites vernus, and yellow bartsia, Parentucellia viscosa (both of the family Orobanchaceae)…
- henbit1578–Ivy-leaved speedwell, Veronica hederifolia, a common arable and garden weed. More fully (and in later use only) small henbit. Now rare.
- red eye-bright1657–= red bartsia, n.
- common orache1728Any of numerous succulent inconspicuous-flowered plants of the genus Atriplex, of the goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae); spec. (a) (more fully gar…
- yellows1738–1802Chiefly English regional. Any of several yellow-flowered arable weeds of the family Brassicaceae, esp. charlock (Sinapis arvensis) and wild turnip (Br…
- sitfast1762–Originally Scottish. Any of several plants having tough, creeping roots; spec. thorny restharrow, Ononis spinosa, and creeping buttercup, Ranunculus r…
- winter weed1787–Any of various small herbaceous plants which flourish in winter and are regarded as weeds; esp. speedwells (genus Veronica) (now rare), and (in the…
- dubbeltjie1795–One of several South African weeds, esp. Tribulus terrestris or Emex australis; also the spiny, angular burr of any of these weeds.
- red bartsia1805–A Eurasian plant, Odontites vernus (formerly included in the genus Bartsia), which has spikes of pink-purple flowers and is common in dry…
- tread-softly1814–A name for a herbaceous perennial stinging plant (Jatropha urens var. stimulosa) of the southern United States; the spurge-nettle.
- rattlesnake leaf1822–†a. = rattlesnake plantain, n. (b) (obsolete); b. a goldenrod (genus Solidago), formerly used to treat rattlesnake bites (cf. rattlesnake herb, n.…
- hog grass1849–Any of various plants occurring chiefly as weeds in cultivated land; esp. knotweed, Polygonum aviculare, and sowthistle Sonchus oleraceus; cf. hogweed…
- popple1855–English regional (Cumberland, Yorkshire). Any of several other cornfield weeds, esp. the corn poppy, Papaver rhoeas, and charlock, Sinapis arvensis…
- horse-nettle1860–A North American weed of the nightshade family (Solanum carolinense).
- Cape weed1878–a. Roccella tinctoria ‘a dye lichen, obtained from the Cape de Verde Islands’ (Treasury Bot. 1866); b. a common yellow-flowered herb, Cryptostemma cal…
- devil's paintbrush1891–Orange hawkweed, Pilosella aurantiaca, which is considered to be a troublesome weed in many places where it has been introduced.
- tree-tobacco1895–See quot. 1895.
- king devil1898–(More fully king devil weed) any of several hawkweeds (genus Hieracium) or mouse-ear hawkweeds (genus Pilosella), esp. when regarded as troublesome…
- khaki weed1907–Alternanthera repens, a member of the family Amaranthaceæ which has spread from South America to South Africa and Australia.
- white top1909–U.S. Any of various plants regarded as weeds of agricultural land, esp. any of several white-flowered species of fleabane (genus Erigeron), and…
- three-corner jack1919–= three-cornered jack n. at three-cornered, adj. 3.
- weedOld English–A person or thing likened to a weed (sense I.i.1a.i) in being considered noxious, troublesome, or useless.
- popplea1425–1644figurative. In echoes of Matthew 13:25, 26: tares (tare, n.¹ 3b). Obsolete.
- darnel1444–figurative. Cf. cockle, n.¹, tare, n.¹
- zizania1526–1809A weed that grows among wheat; tares, darnel; = zizany, n. 1. Also figurative: a pernicious influence or unwanted element; cf. tare, n.¹ 3. Obsolete.
- thistle1563–figurative or in figurative context, with reference to the thistle as a noxious or prickly weed.
- zizany1581A weed that grows among wheat; tares, darnel; = zizania, n. 1. Also figurative: a pernicious influence or unwanted element; cf. tare, n.¹ 3.
- fungus1659–figurative. A person or thing likened to a fungus, esp. in being unpleasant, excrescent, or ephemeral.
- tare1686–Hence in allusive and figurative uses.
- 2.1759–1803
- 1759
A great number of plants fit for food might be sown, such as zizany of Canada [Latin Zizania canadensis].
B. Stillingfleet, translation of C. Gedner, Of Use of Curiosity in Miscellaneous Tracts Natural History 149 - 1803
Rough Dog's-tail Grass, or Cynosurus echinatus; Water Zizany, or Zizania aquatica.
G. Nicholson, On Food 86
the world plants particular plants cultivated or valued plants particular food plant or plant product cereal, corn, or grain [nouns] rice types of rice or rice-plants- black rice1528–Any of several varieties of rice with a dark-coloured husk.
- fundi1670–Originally: porridge or other food made from the seeds of millet or a similar cereal grass. In later use also: a cereal grass, Digitaria exilis…
- ricea1710–Chiefly North American. The edible seeds of any of several grasses of the genus Zizania (closely related to Oryza); (also) any of these grasses, esp…
- wild rice1748–An aquatic grass, Zizania aquatica, native to North America, having seeds resembling rice and used as food.
- zizania1756–Botany. An aquatic grass of the genus Zizania; wild rice. Also (in form Zizania): the genus itself.
- zizany1759–1803An aquatic grass of the genus Zizania; wild rice; = zizania, n. 2. rare.
- water oats1771–Wild rice (genus Zizania) (see rice, n.² 3a).
- Canada rice1786–Any of several kinds of North American wild rice (genus Zizania), esp. Z. aquatica, which grows in shallow water and the seeds of which are used…
- Carolina rice1787–A variety of rice, the ripe husk of which is yellowish.
- menomin1791–A name originally used by Ojibwa people and also occasionally more widely (esp. in Canada) for: wild rice, Zizania aquatica, or its seeds.
- Patna rice1795–In full Patna rice. A variety of rice with long firm grains, used chiefly in curries and other savoury dishes.
- Indian rice1809–a. Any of several kinds of North American wild rice (genus Zizania); esp. Z. aquatica, which grows in shallow water and was formerly an important…
- water rice1811–Wild rice (genus Zizania) (see rice, n.² 3a).
- pulut1820–In Malaysia: a kind of glutinous rice. Also attributive, esp. in pulut rice.
- gold-seed1822–a. A variety of rice with a yellowish husk, grown in the southern United States (frequently attributive) (now historical); †b. crested dogstail…
- dhan1832–Rice in the husk.
- hungry rice1858–A grain allied to millet, Paspalum exile, much cultivated in West Africa.
- swamp rice1861–= Canada, n.¹ rice.
- bomba1914–More fully bomba rice. A variety of short-grained rice that retains a firm texture after cooking, chiefly used in paella.
- Menominee1949–North American. With lower-case initial. = menomin, n. rare.
- miracle rice1968–A modern hybrid rice with an exceptionally high yield.
Forms
Variant forms
- Middle Englishȝiȝannie, ȝiȝannije, ȝiȝanny
- 1500s–1700szizanie
- 1500s–1800szizany