1. Of or pertaining to corn. a. when growing or cut.
1580. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. lxxiv. xvi. The summers corny crowne.
1595. Markham, Sir R. Grinvile, ii. The earth … Boasting his cornie mantle stird with aire.
1625. Lisle, Du Bartas, 14 (T.). [The rain] downward gan to rave, And drown’d the corny ranks.
1667. Milton, P. L., VII. 321. Up stood the cornie Reed Embattel’d in her field.
1805. Poet. Reg., 179. Yon turkies perching on the corny pile.
b. as grain or meal.
1855. Singleton, Virgil, II. 166. [They] wheaten cakes Along the grass place underneath the feast … And with wild fruits the corny board enrich.
1881. Times, 13 May, 4/1. The corny fragrance of meal and flour.
† 2. Of ale: ? Tasting strong of the corn or malt. Obs. or dial.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pard. Pream., 29. A draughte of moyste and corny ale. Ibid., Prol. & T., 128. Now haue I dronke a draughte of corny ale.
15[?]. Christmas Carols (Percy Soc.), 47. A draught Of cornie aile, Nappy and staile.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Corny, tasting well of malt. ‘The ale is corny.’
3. Producing corn; abounding in (growing) corn.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Pais de blairie, a corney country.
1825–79. Jamieson, s.v., ‘The last was a corny year.’
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XVII. iv. Seize Saxony … and in that rich corny Country form Magazines.
b. Abounding in grains of corn.
1687. Dryden, Hind & P., III. 959. By their high Crops, and Corny Gizzards known.
1718. Prior, Solomon, I. 154. The ant … bringing home the corny ear.
1826. Blackw. Mag., XIX. 250. A cloud of pigeons often descends among the corny chaff.
4. Intoxicated, tipsy; = CORNED. dial.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Corny, tipsey.
1863. Robson, Bards of Tyne, 25. Yen day when aw was corney.
5. Comb., as corny-faced (see quot.).
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Corny-fac’d, a very Red or Blue pimpled Phiz.
