zizany, n.

zizany
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zizany_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2021

# † zizanynoun

## Earlier version

- zizany in OED Second Edition (1989)

## In other dictionaries

- zīzannī(e, n. in Middle English Dictionary

## 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

1. zither, n. 1831–
2. zither, v. 1889–
3. zither banjo, n. 1888–
4. zithering, adj. 1889–
5. zitherist, n. 1866–
6. zither-like, adj. 1881–
7. ziti, n. 1845–
8. zitty, adj. 1971–
9. Ziv, n. a1382–
10. zizania, n. 1526–
11. zizany, n.a1400–1803
12. zizel, n. 1775–
13. zizypha, n. 1546–1775
14. zizyphus, n.?1440–
15. zizz, v. 1883–
16. zizz, int. & n. 1824–
17. zizzing, n. 1884–
18. zizzing, adj. 1919–
19. zizzy, adj. 1843–
20. Zlid, n. 1616–1785
21. 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. 1.
   a1400–1789
   A weed that grows among wheat; tares, darnel; = zizania n. 1. Also figurative: a pernicious influence or unwanted element; cf. tare n.1 3.
   1. a1400 (a1325)

      > Þi wete sal bi-com ȝiȝanny [Göttingen MS. ȝiȝannije, Fairfax MS. darnel].

      Cursor Mundi (Vespasian MS.) l. 1138
      [Composed a1325]
   2. c1425

      > Recipe semen iusquiamus, ȝiȝannie, i. darnel.

      translation of J. Arderne, Treatises of Fistula (Sloane MS. 6) (1910) 100
   3. ?1533

      > Zizany, droe.

      G. Du Wes, Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Dii
   4. 1581

      > To desaue ye varld to sau zizanie and pernicious heresie in mennis hartis.

      J. Hamilton, Catholik Traictise Epist. f. 3
   5. 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
   6. 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
   7. 1789

      > There is zizanie between the D. of Portland, Fox, and Sheridan.

      T. Jefferson, Letter 22 January in Papers (1958) vol. XIV. 482
   plants
   1. zizany a1400–1789
      A weed that grows among wheat; tares, darnel; = zizania, n. 1. Also figurative: a pernicious influence or unwanted element; cf. tare, n.¹ 3.
   2. tares a1425–
      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…
   3. titter 1573–1643
      A kind of weed found in cornfields (perhaps a vetch or tare).
   4. furrow-weed 1608–
      A weed that grows on the ‘furrow’ or ploughed land.
   5. zizania 1756–
      Botany. An aquatic grass of the genus Zizania; wild rice. Also (in form Zizania): the genus itself.
   6. walder 1764–
      Some weed found abundantly in cornfields.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
   1. zizany a1400–1789
      A weed that grows among wheat; tares, darnel; = zizania, n. 1. Also figurative: a pernicious influence or unwanted element; cf. tare, n.¹ 3.
   2. hog's fennel 1525–
      Any of several plants having finely divided leaves like those of fennel; spec. (a) a plant of the genus Peucedanum (family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae))…
   3. zizania 1526–1809
      A weed that grows among wheat; tares, darnel; = zizany, n. 1. Also figurative: a pernicious influence or unwanted element; cf. tare, n.¹ 3. Obsolete.
   4. eyebright 1578–
      Any of several related plants, esp. red bartsia, Odontites vernus, and yellow bartsia, Parentucellia viscosa (both of the family Orobanchaceae)…
   5. henbit 1578–
      Ivy-leaved speedwell, Veronica hederifolia, a common arable and garden weed. More fully (and in later use only) small henbit. Now rare.
   6. red eye-bright 1657–
      = red bartsia, n.
   7. common orache 1728
      Any of numerous succulent inconspicuous-flowered plants of the genus Atriplex, of the goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae); spec. (a) (more fully gar…
   8. yellows 1738–1802
      Chiefly English regional. Any of several yellow-flowered arable weeds of the family Brassicaceae, esp. charlock (Sinapis arvensis) and wild turnip (Br…
   9. sitfast 1762–
      Originally Scottish. Any of several plants having tough, creeping roots; spec. thorny restharrow, Ononis spinosa, and creeping buttercup, Ranunculus r…
   10. winter weed 1787–
       Any of various small herbaceous plants which flourish in winter and are regarded as weeds; esp. speedwells (genus Veronica) (now rare), and (in the…
   11. dubbeltjie 1795–
       One of several South African weeds, esp. Tribulus terrestris or Emex australis; also the spiny, angular burr of any of these weeds.
   12. red bartsia 1805–
       A Eurasian plant, Odontites vernus (formerly included in the genus Bartsia), which has spikes of pink-purple flowers and is common in dry…
   13. tread-softly 1814–
       A name for a herbaceous perennial stinging plant (Jatropha urens var. stimulosa) of the southern United States; the spurge-nettle.
   14. rattlesnake leaf 1822–
       †a. = rattlesnake plantain, n. (b) (obsolete); b. a goldenrod (genus Solidago), formerly used to treat rattlesnake bites (cf. rattlesnake herb, n.…
   15. hog grass 1849–
       Any of various plants occurring chiefly as weeds in cultivated land; esp. knotweed, Polygonum aviculare, and sowthistle Sonchus oleraceus; cf. hogweed…
   16. popple 1855–
       English regional (Cumberland, Yorkshire). Any of several other cornfield weeds, esp. the corn poppy, Papaver rhoeas, and charlock, Sinapis arvensis…
   17. horse-nettle 1860–
       A North American weed of the nightshade family (Solanum carolinense).
   18. Cape weed 1878–
       a. Roccella tinctoria ‘a dye lichen, obtained from the Cape de Verde Islands’ (Treasury Bot. 1866); b. a common yellow-flowered herb, Cryptostemma cal…
   19. devil's paintbrush 1891–
       Orange hawkweed, Pilosella aurantiaca, which is considered to be a troublesome weed in many places where it has been introduced.
   20. tree-tobacco 1895–
       See quot. 1895.
   21. king devil 1898–
       (More fully king devil weed) any of several hawkweeds (genus Hieracium) or mouse-ear hawkweeds (genus Pilosella), esp. when regarded as troublesome…
   22. khaki weed 1907–
       Alternanthera repens, a member of the family Amaranthaceæ which has spread from South America to South Africa and Australia.
   23. white top 1909–
       U.S. Any of various plants regarded as weeds of agricultural land, esp. any of several white-flowered species of fleabane (genus Erigeron), and…
   24. three-corner jack 1919–
       = three-cornered jack n. at three-cornered, adj. 3.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
   1. weed Old English–
      A person or thing likened to a weed (sense I.i.1a.i) in being considered noxious, troublesome, or useless.
   2. popple a1425–1644
      figurative. In echoes of Matthew 13:25, 26: tares (tare, n.¹ 3b). Obsolete.
   3. darnel 1444–
      figurative. Cf. cockle, n.¹, tare, n.¹
   4. zizania 1526–1809
      A weed that grows among wheat; tares, darnel; = zizany, n. 1. Also figurative: a pernicious influence or unwanted element; cf. tare, n.¹ 3. Obsolete.
   5. thistle 1563–
      figurative or in figurative context, with reference to the thistle as a noxious or prickly weed.
   6. zizany 1581
      A weed that grows among wheat; tares, darnel; = zizania, n. 1. Also figurative: a pernicious influence or unwanted element; cf. tare, n.¹ 3.
   7. fungus 1659–
      figurative. A person or thing likened to a fungus, esp. in being unpleasant, excrescent, or ephemeral.
   8. tare 1686–
      Hence in allusive and figurative uses.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
2. 2.
   1759–1803
   An aquatic grass of the genus Zizania; wild rice; = zizania n. 2. rare.
   1. 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
   2. 1803

      > Rough Dog's-tail Grass, or Cynosurus echinatus; Water Zizany, or Zizania aquatica.

      G. Nicholson, On Food 86
   plants
   1. black rice 1528–
      Any of several varieties of rice with a dark-coloured husk.
   2. fundi 1670–
      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…
   3. rice a1710–
      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…
   4. wild rice 1748–
      An aquatic grass, Zizania aquatica, native to North America, having seeds resembling rice and used as food.
   5. zizania 1756–
      Botany. An aquatic grass of the genus Zizania; wild rice. Also (in form Zizania): the genus itself.
   6. zizany 1759–1803
      An aquatic grass of the genus Zizania; wild rice; = zizania, n. 2. rare.
   7. water oats 1771–
      Wild rice (genus Zizania) (see rice, n.² 3a).
   8. Canada rice 1786–
      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…
   9. Carolina rice 1787–
      A variety of rice, the ripe husk of which is yellowish.
   10. menomin 1791–
       A name originally used by Ojibwa people and also occasionally more widely (esp. in Canada) for: wild rice, Zizania aquatica, or its seeds.
   11. Patna rice 1795–
       In full Patna rice. A variety of rice with long firm grains, used chiefly in curries and other savoury dishes.
   12. Indian rice 1809–
       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…
   13. water rice 1811–
       Wild rice (genus Zizania) (see rice, n.² 3a).
   14. pulut 1820–
       In Malaysia: a kind of glutinous rice. Also attributive, esp. in pulut rice.
   15. gold-seed 1822–
       a. A variety of rice with a yellowish husk, grown in the southern United States (frequently attributive) (now historical); †b. crested dogstail…
   16. dhan 1832–
       Rice in the husk.
   17. hungry rice 1858–
       A grain allied to millet, Paspalum exile, much cultivated in West Africa.
   18. swamp rice 1861–
       = Canada, n.¹ rice.
   19. bomba 1914–
       More fully bomba rice. A variety of short-grained rice that retains a firm texture after cooking, chiefly used in paella.
   20. Menominee 1949–
       North American. With lower-case initial. = menomin, n. rare.
   21. miracle rice 1968–
       A modern hybrid rice with an exceptionally high yield.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Forms

### Variant forms

1. Middle English
   ȝiȝannie, ȝiȝannije, ȝiȝanny
2. 1500s–1700s
   zizanie
3. 1500s–1800s
   zizany

zizany, n. was revised in March 2021.

zizany, n. was last modified in July 2023.