wild rice

noun

1. a tall aquatic grass, Zizania aquatica, of northeastern North America.
2. the grain of this plant, used for food.

wild rice

noun

1. another name for Indian rice

Word History and Origins

Origin of wild rice¹

First recorded in 1740–50

Example Sentences

At last, early one morning, he found Dusky and his flock in the rushes and wild rice.

From Project Gutenberg

From the bark of a birch tree he fashioned a canoe in which he rowed out upon the lake and gathered a quantity of the wild rice.

From Project Gutenberg

He did not know the wild rice was useful for food, for he had never seen it before, but he admired its beauty.

From Project Gutenberg

When the water was boiling the Musk-rat upset the kettle, which was found to be full of wild rice, upon which Ictinike feasted.

From Project Gutenberg

Wild rice is an ideal nesting place for a colony of these little marsh wrens.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• brown rice