Wheat, n.

(hweet), n. [A-S. hwæte, allied to hwit, white; O. Sax. hwête, Icel. hveiti, Sw. hvete, Dan. hvede, Goth. hwaiti, hwaitteis, D. weit, weite, L. Ger. weiten, weten, O. H. Ger. hwaizzi, hweizi, uweizi, M. H. Ger. weize, N. H. Ger. weizen, waizen.] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Triticum, and the seed of the plant, which furnishes a white flour for bread, and, next to rice, is the grain most generally used by the human race.

Common Wheat (Triticum vulgare).

Of this grain the varieties are numerous, as red wheat, white wheat, bald wheat, bearded wheat, winter wheat, summer wheat, and the like. The species from which most of the grain used for food is derived, is T. vulgare, of which there are two varieties, T. æstivum or summer wheat, and T. hibernum or winter wheat.