millet
/ˈmɪlɪt
/noun [mass noun]
A cereal grown in warm countries and regions with poor soils, bearing a large crop of small seeds which are chiefly used to make flour.
- Several species in the family Gramineae, in particular common millet (Panicum miliaceum), of temperate regions, the tropical finger millet (Eleusine coracana), which is a staple in parts of Africa and India, and pearl millet.
- Cereals such as oats, barley, millet, buckwheat, rye, sesame, nuts and seeds are preferable.
- Wheat, barley, rice, rye, oats, millet and corn are the world's top food crops.
Origin
Late Middle English: from French, diminutive of dialect mil, from Latin milium.