hay
UK: heɪ | US: heɪ
n. Grass that has been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal fodder.
n. (Informal) A small amount of money.
The word "hay" traces back to Old English hieg or hīeg, meaning "cut grass." It shares roots with Old Norse hey and Dutch hooi, all referring to dried grass used as fodder. The term has remained remarkably stable in form and meaning across Germanic languages, reflecting its agricultural importance. Unlike many words, "hay" is monomorphic—it cannot be broken into smaller meaningful units in modern English.
The farmer stacked the hay in the barn before the rain arrived.
Cows and horses rely on hay during winter when fresh grass is scarce.
He made a small hay of his savings to buy the tools.
The children played hide-and-seek in the hayloft, surrounded by bales of hay.
She spread hay over the garden soil to protect the plants from frost.