mealie cobn.
/ˈmiːlɪ ˌkɒb/, U.S. /ˈmili ˌkɑb/, South African English /ˈmiːli ˌkɒb/ South African.
An ear of maize; (also) the central cylindrical woody part of an ear of maize; = corn-cob n. a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > corn, cereals, or grain > [noun] > maize > head or cob
ear of corna1425
ear1679
mealie cob1859
maize cob1882
1859 R. J. Mann Colony of Natal 137 The young mealy-cob is generally preferred to bread.
1912 J. Ayliff & J. Whiteside Hist. Abambo 5 A white man, who had long hair, like the tresses of a mealie cob.
1932 S. Zuckerman Social Life Monkeys & Apes xii. 195 The meally cobs and fruit it [sc. the chacma] plunders from cultivated lands.
1977 Sunday Times (Johannesburg) 27 Feb. (Mag.) 7/1 Fuel was mealie cobs—appropriate for that maize and wheat growing area.
1994 H. Holland Born in Soweto i. 19 Three bright braziers burn hectically on the roadside, in preparation for..those who will come to roast mealie cobs.
2008 J. Steinberg Sizwe's Test 152 He picked up a mealie cob that had been lying on the plate in front of him. ‘This is ours.’
Compounds
mealie-cob worm n. rare the caterpillar of the corn earworm, Heliothis armigera, a noctuid moth.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Heterocera > [noun] > family Noctuidae > caterpillar of heliothis armigera (mealie-cob)
earworm1882
mealie-cob worm1911
1911 J. D. F. Gilchrist S. Afr. Zool. 150 The Mealie-cob-worm..does extensive damage to mealies, peas, tomatoes and lucerne.
1932 H. E. Andriés Controlling Plant Pests Southern Afr. iv. 74 (caption) The mealy cob worm. a, Egg from side; b, egg from above; c, caterpillar; d, pupa in its cell; e, moth, wings spread.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1859