mealie
/'mi:li/
Definition
- Noun:
- An ear of corn (maize): Specifically refers to the cob or spike of a maize plant, bearing the kernels. This term is primarily used in South African English.
- (Often in plural, 'mealies') Maize kernels or corn as a food crop: The term is commonly used in the plural form to refer to maize or corn, especially the grain itself or a dish made from it.
Usage Examples
- Noun (singular):
- The farmer examined a ripe mealie in the field. (The farmer examined a ripe ear of corn in the field.)
- Noun (plural):
- We bought a bag of dried mealies to make porridge. (We bought a bag of dried maize kernels to make porridge.)
- Mealies are a staple food in many parts of Southern Africa. (Maize is a staple food in many parts of Southern Africa.)
Advanced Usage
- "Mealie meal": A coarse flour made from ground maize, used to make porridge (e.g., pap, sadza, nshima).
- She used mealie meal to prepare the traditional dish.
- "Mealie field": A field where maize/corn is cultivated.
- The vast mealie fields stretched to the horizon.
Variants and Related Words
- Mealies (n, plural): The standard plural form, referring to maize/corn kernels or cobs.
- Mealie pap (n): A thick porridge made from mealie meal, common in Southern African cuisine.
- Mealie rice (n): Processed maize that resembles rice grains.
Synonyms
- Ear of corn (US English): The cob of a maize plant with its kernels.
- Maize cob (British English): Equivalent term for an ear of corn.
- Corn (US English; general term for the plant and grain): Note: In British English, 'corn' can refer to any cereal grain, but in the context of 'mealie', it is synonymous with maize.
Notes on Usage
- The word 'mealie' is a regionalism, almost exclusively used in Southern Africa (especially South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia).
- It is a countable noun. The singular 'a mealie' typically refers to one ear/cob. The plural 'mealies' is very frequently used to refer to the grain in bulk or as a commodity.
- It is not commonly used in American or British English, where 'ear of corn' or 'maize cob' are preferred.
Noun
-
an ear of corn
