corn-stalk

A tall, thin man stands next to a corn-stalk in a field.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Stem of a maize plant: "corn-stalk" refers to the main stem or stalk of the corn (maize) plant, which supports the leaves, ears, and tassels.
   • A tall, thin person: Informally, "corn-stalk" can describe a person who is very tall and slender, often in a somewhat humorous or affectionate way.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The farmer cut down the dry corn-stalks after the harvest. (The main stems of the maize plants after the grain was collected.)
  • He’s a real corn-stalk, towering over everyone in the room. (A tall, thin person, like the stem of a corn plant.)

Advanced Usage

• "like a corn-stalk in the wind": Description of a very tall, thin person who seems unsteady or easily swayed.
  • The young boy swayed like a corn-stalk in the wind as he tried to balance. (He moved unsteadily because of his height and thinness.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cornstalk (n, alternative spelling): The same word, often written as a single compound.
  • The cornstalk was thick and sturdy. (The stem was strong.)
• Stalk (n): The main stem of a plant, not specific to corn.
  • The rose stalk had thorns. (The stem of the rose plant.)

Synonyms

• Maize stem: The botanical term for the stem of the corn plant.
• Stem: A general term for the main support of a plant.
• Beanpole: An informal term for a very tall, thin person (similar to "corn-stalk").

Related Idioms

• Corn-stalk of a man: An idiomatic phrase emphasizing a person's extreme tallness and thinness.
  • He was a corn-stalk of a man, easily spotted in a crowd. (A very tall, thin man.)

Notes on Usage

• The informal meaning (a tall, thin person) is less common in modern English and may be considered slightly old-fashioned or regional (especially in rural or agricultural contexts). The primary definition remains the botanical one.