corn

Etymology 1

From Middle English corn, from Old English corn, from Proto-West Germanic *korn, from Proto-Germanic *kurną, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵr̥h₂nóm (“grain; worn-down”), from *ǵerh₂- (“grow old, mature”). Cognate with Dutch koren, German Low German Koorn, German Korn, Danish korn, Norwegian Bokmål korn, Norwegian Nynorsk korn and Swedish korn; see also Albanian grurë, Russian зерно́ (zernó), Czech zrno, Latin grānum, Lithuanian žirnis and English grain. In sense 'maize' a shortening from earlier Indian corn.

noun

1. (Commonwealth English, but not Australia or New Zealand, uncountable) Any cereal plant (or its grain) that is the main crop or staple of a country or region.
   Among the divinities that dwelt on Mount Olympus, none was more friendly to the husbandman than Demeter, goddess of corn. 1847, John Mason Neale, Stories from heathen mythology and Greek history, page 115
   [T]here exists arguments in favour of regarding one of the eatable varieties of "leaven," Machmetzeth, as the beer of the Hebrews. The mention of beer by the Egyptians is frequent; under the name of Hek, two intoxicating beverages are included. The components of these beers, individually, are not known: one was made from corn, the other was a medicated or sweetened beer, due to the addition of honey, or system of brewing. 1887, James Death, The Beer of the Bible: One of the Hitherto Unknown Leavens of Exodus.[…], page 12
   I found that we had nearly a hundred bushels of corn, including wheat, maize, and barley, to add to our store. 1909, Johann David Wyss (Susannah Mary Paull, translator), The Swiss Family Robinson, page 462
2. (US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, uncountable) Maize, a grain crop of the species Zea mays.
   The planting or sowing of maize, exclusively called corn, was just accomplished on the Town Hill, when I reached it. 1809, Edward Augustus Kendall, Travels Through the Northern Parts of the United States
   Corn was the staff of life for many Indian people before contact, and it became the staff of life for many European colonists. Corn was higher in nutrition than most other grain crops. John Lawson, who travelled in South Carolina and into the interior Indian country in 1701, was one of the many colonists who sang the praises of corn. 18 February 1998, Colin G. Calloway, New Worlds for All: Indians, Europeans, and the Remaking of Early America, JHU Press, pages 51–52
3. A grain or seed, especially of a cereal crop.
   He paid her the nominal fee of two corns of barley.
4. A small, hard particle.
   corns of powder 1852, Thomas Antisell, Hand-book of the Useful Arts
5. (uncountable) A type of granular snow formed by repeated melting and refreezing, often in mountain spring conditions.
6. (Jamaica, MLE, slang, firearms, uncountable) bullets, ammunition, charge and discharge of firearms
   R.I.P Scumpy ah you did say Popcaan And if a boy diss we clap corn. 2014-06-09, Andrae Hugh Sutherland respectively Popcaan of Popcaan (lyrics and music), “Where We Come From” (track 13), in Where We Come From
   We got spinners and dotties We got .40s and MACs We got nuff live corn […] See the four-door pausing Skengs out, everyone runnin But the corn just slapped and floored em 50 shots in that mop 2016-09-09, Liquez respectively Dimzy of 67 (lyrics and music), “Jump Out Gang” (track 7), in Let’s Lurk
7. (Jamaica, slang, uncountable) money.
   You know dem have wedge while we have corn. Say Cockney say be first, my son! We just say Gwan! 1984, Smiley Culture, Cockney Translator (song title)

verb

1. (US, Canada) To granulate; to form (a substance) into grains.
   to corn gunpowder
2. (US, Canada) To preserve using coarse salt, e.g. corned beef.
3. (US, Canada) To provide (an animal) with corn (typically maize; or, in Scotland, oats) for feed.
   Corn the horses.
4. (transitive, obsolete) To render intoxicated.
   ale strong enough to corn one
5. (Jamaica, MLE, slang) To shoot up with bullets as by a shotgun (corn).
   Anywhere, anytime, I'll get him, if he's in love; I'll corn his wedding He backed his wetter, I backed my wetter but who really held that wetting? 2019-09-11, Yanko (lyrics and music), “Next Up”, in #ACGK, 1:49

Etymology 2

From Middle English corne, from Old French corn (modern French cor), from Latin cornu.

noun

1. A type of callus, usually on the feet or hands.
2. (veterinary medicine) An inflammatory disease of a horse's hoof, at the caudal part of the sole.
3. (veterinary medicine) Skin hyperplasia with underlying fibroma between both digits of cattle.

Etymology 3

From corny.

noun

1. (US, Canada) Something (e.g. acting, humour, music, or writing) which is deemed old-fashioned or intended to induce emotion.
   He had a sharp wit, true enough, but also a good, healthy mountaineer's love of pure corn, the slapstick stuff, the in-jokes that get funnier with every repetition and never amuse anybody who wasn't there. 1975, Tschirlie, Backpacker
   There were lots of jokes on the show and they were pure corn, but the audience didn't mind. 1986, Linda Martin, Kerry Segrave, Women in Comedy
   The bulk of this humor was pure corn, but as hillbilly material it was meant to be that way. 2007, Bob L. Cox, Fiddlin' Charlie Bowman: an East Tennessee old-time music pioneer and his musical family