raisin (1), (as razn), reis in, reisyn, reysyn

[Fr. raisin, from Lat. racemum, acc us. of racemus a cluster or branch of grapes; Sp.racimo; Ital. racemo. Raisin and raceme are thus doublets.] *1. A cluster of grapes. "Neither in the vyneyerd thou shalt gadere reysyns and greynes fallynge down." - Wycliffe : Lev . xix. 10. 2. Comm . ( pl . ) : Grapes dried in the sun. In the case of the best grapes the proce is effected by cutting half through the fruit stalk without detaching it from the tree, or by gathering the grapes when fully ripe and dipping them in a lye made of the ashes of the burned tendrils, after which they are exposed to the sun, or they may be simply laid out to be desiccated. Inferior qualities are dried in an oven. Raisins are now extensively produced in California. 3. Pharm .: Raisins are slightly refrigerant. In Europe and America they are used solely to sweeten preparations, in India they are given as a medicine. They are an ingredient of compound tincture of cardamoms and of tincture of senna. 4. Bot.: Ribes rubrum. *rais-in (2), s . [Etym. doubtful; prob. for rais ing (q. v.).] A raising-piece (q. v.).