Emily Dickinson Lexicon

OAT, n. [Sax. ate, oat or cockle, darnel; Russ. oves or ovetzi.]

A plant of the genus Avena, and more usually, the seed of the plant. The word is commonly used in the plural, oats. This plant flourishes best in cold latitudes, and degenerates in the warm. The meal of this grain, oatmeal, forms a considerable and very valuable article of food for man in Scotland, and every where oats are excellent food for horses and cattle.