Rice (?), n. [F. riz (cf. Pr.
ris, It. riso), L. oryza, Gr. ???,
???, probably from the Persian; cf. OPers. brīzi,
akin to Skr. vrīhi; or perh. akin to E. rye. Cf.
Rye.] (Bot.) A well-known cereal grass (Oryza
sativa) and its seed. This plant is extensively cultivated in
warm climates, and the grain forms a large portion of the food of the
inhabitants. In America it grows chiefly on low, moist land, which can
be overflowed.
Ant rice. (Bot.) See under
Ant. -- French rice. (Bot.)
See Amelcorn. -- Indian rice., a
tall reedlike water grass (Zizania aquatica), bearing panicles
of a long, slender grain, much used for food by North American
Indians. It is common in shallow water in the Northern States. Called
also water oat, Canadian wild rice, etc. --
Mountain rice, any species of an American genus
(Oryzopsis) of grasses, somewhat resembling rice. --
Rice bunting. (Zoöl.) Same as
Ricebird. -- Rice hen
(Zoöl.), the Florida gallinule. -- Rice
mouse (Zoöl.), a large dark-colored field
mouse (Calomys palistris) of the Southern United States. -
- Rice paper, a kind of thin, delicate paper,
brought from China, -- used for painting upon, and for the manufacture
of fancy articles. It is made by cutting the pith of a large herb
(Fatsia papyrifera, related to the ginseng) into one roll or
sheet, which is flattened out under pressure. Called also pith
paper. -- Rice troupial
(Zoöl.), the bobolink. -- Rice
water, a drink for invalids made by boiling a small
quantity of rice in water. -- Rice-water
discharge (Med.), a liquid, resembling rice water
in appearance, which is vomited, and discharged from the bowels, in
cholera. -- Rice weevil (Zoöl.),
a small beetle (Calandra, or Sitophilus, oryzæ) which
destroys rice, wheat, and Indian corn by eating out the interior; --
called also black weevil.