Hay

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Hay

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun and verb

Pronunciation

hay  /heɪ/

Definition

As a noun: grass that has been cut and dried for use as animal fodder; the fixed phrases include make hay while the sun shines and hit the hay. As a verb: to cut, dry, and store grass as hay.

Plain meaning

Hay is dried grass stored as animal feed. To make hay is to cut and dry it. Make hay while the sun shines means to take advantage of a favourable situation while it lasts. Hit the hay is informal for going to bed.

Register

Neutral and everyday. Hay is a fundamental agricultural term but also appears in widely used idioms. That's not hay — British expression for a significant sum of money — reflects the historical value of hay as an agricultural commodity. Haystack, haymaker, hayfever: productive compounds.