Meaning of ratoon | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A shoot sprouting from the root of a cropped plant, especially sugar cane.
2. A rattan cane.

Examples

“1803, John Browne Cutting, “A Succinct History of Jamaica” in Robert Charles Dallas, The History of the Maroons, London: Longman and Rees, Volume 1, p. xci, Ratoons, probably so named from a corruption of the Spanish word brotones, are suckers and sprouts, that spring⟳ from the roots of canes that have⟳ previously been cut⟳ down.”

“Their field tasks were somewhat easier than those of the great gang: cleaning and banking young canes, turning over trash or ratoon pieces (canes sprouting from old roots).”

“A number⟳ of very small fruits from Cayenne ratoons were recently examined.”

“Soon after harvest⟳, new shoots emerge⟳ from axillary buds on the stubble and give⟳ rise⟳ to the ratoon crop. Initially the young shoots are dependent upon the roots of the previous crop (stool roots) but these are replaced by new shoot⟳ roots […].”

“1660, Samuel Pepys, diary entry for 13 September, 1660, in Diary and Correspondence of Samuel Pepys, London: Henry Colburn, 1848, 3rd edition, Volume 1, p. 134, Mr. Hawley did give⟳ me a little black rattoon, painted and gilt.”

CEFR level