Straw \Straw\, n. [OE. straw, stre, stree, AS. stre['a]w, from
the root of E. strew; akin to OFries. str[=e], D. stroo, G.
stroh, OHG. str[=o], Icel. str[=a], Dan. straa, Sw. str[*a].
[root]166. See Strew.]
1. A stalk or stem of certain species of grain, pulse, etc.,
especially of wheat, rye, oats, barley, more rarely of
buckwheat, beans, and pease.
2. The gathered and thrashed stalks of certain species of
grain, etc.; as, a bundle, or a load, of rye straw.
3. Anything proverbially worthless; the least possible thing;
a mere trifle.
I set not a straw by thy dreamings. --Chaucer.
Note: Straw is often used in the formation of self-explaining
compounds; as, straw-built, straw-crowned,
straw-roofed, straw-stuffed, and the like.
Man of straw, an effigy formed by stuffing the garments of
a man with straw; hence, a fictitious person; an
irresponsible person; a puppet.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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