bent (2)

[A.S. beonet ( Mahn; not in Bosworth); O.S. binet; Ger. binse = a rush; M. H. Ger. binuz, bins = a bent, a gra ; O. H. Ger. pinuz.] I. In England: 1. Of the plants so called. Bent (sing.), bents (pl.): A general form meaning usually (1) The old stalks of various gra es. Thus near London the word is applied chiefly to the Reed Canary-Gra ( Phalaris a rund in ace a ); in South Bucking hams hire and Cumber land principally to the Crested Dog's-tail Gra (Cynosurus cristatus); in the north of Yorkshire to the Fine Bent-gra ( Agrostis vulgar is); in Suffolk to the Rushy Sea Wheatgra ( Triticum junceum ); and in the East of England generally, as in Scotland, to the Sea Reed, Psamma arenaria , called also Ammo phil a a rund in ace a . 517 (2) Various stiff-stalked endogenous plants not admitted by botanists to belong to the Graminacese, or order of Gra es proper. Thus Bailey applies the term bent to the Lake Clubrush, or Bull-rush ( Scirpus lacustris ). In Yorkshire and the north of England generally it is used of the Heath Rush ( Juncus squarrosus ), one of the Juncaceæ (Rushes). (3) Various dry or stiff-stalked plants not even belonging to the Endogenous sub-kingdom. Thus in Wilts and East Yorkshire the name is applied to the Greater Plantain ( Plant a go major), and the Ribwort Plantain (P. lanceo lat a ); in Wilts to the first of these two plants; in Cheshire to two Heaths, the Fine-leaved Heath ( Erica cinerea), and the Common Ling ( Calluna vulgar is ). 2. Of the place where they grow : A place overspread with bents. [II. 2.] 3. Generally: Any field or meadow. "On felde they faght as they wer were wode, Ovyr the bentys ranne the blode." Bone Florence, 1,039. IMG:content-1235.png:[blocks in formation] (1) The Sea Reed, Psamma arenaria, called also Ammophila a rund in ace a. (2) The Rushy Sea-wheat gra ( Triticum junceum). 2. Of the place where they grow : A place overspread with any of the plants now described, and especially with the Sea-reed mentioned under I., 1, and II. (1). To gae to the bent ( Scotch ): To go to the bent. The same as to tak the bent (q.v.). To tak the bent ( Scotch ): To take to the bent; to attempt to hide one's self among the bents when fleeing from battle. Black Bent : A gra ( Alopecurus agrestis , Linn.). Broad Bent: A gra ( Psamma arenaria, Beauv.) ( Scotl ., Edmonston's MS.). Hendon Bent: A gra (Cynosurus cristatus, Linn., Midd.) "The hay of Middle sex is often of good quality. Hendon, perhaps, produces the hay which has the best name in the market. ( Journal Royal Agric . Society , 1869, p. 25.) Mother of Bent: Elymus arenarius, Linn., Outer He brides. ( Macgillivray: Journ. Nat. and Geogr. Science, ii. 93.) Narrow Bent : Elymus arenarius, Linn. ( Ed monston's MS.) Way Bent: Hordeum murinum , Linn.; Супо sur us cristatus , Linn. ( Martyn's Fiora Rustic a , 1793.) ( Britten & Holland , & c .)