hay

[ hey ]
/ heɪ /

noun

verb (used with object)

to convert (plant material) into hay.
to furnish (horses, cows, etc.) with hay.

verb (used without object)

to cut grass, clover, or the like, and store for use as forage.

Idioms for hay

Origin of hay

before 900; Middle English; Old English hēg; cognate with German Heu, Old Norse hey, Gothic hawi. See hew

OTHER WORDS FROM hay

hay·ey, adjective un·hayed, adjective

Words nearby hay

hawthorn, hawthorne, hawthorne effect, hawthorne, nathaniel, hawthornesque, hay, hay fever, hay rake, hay shock, hay-pauncefote treaty, hay-scented fern

British Dictionary definitions for make hay while the sun shines (1 of 3)

hay 1
/ (heɪ) /

noun

verb

to cut, dry, and store (grass, clover, etc) as fodder
(tr) to feed with hay

Word Origin for hay

Old English hieg; related to Old Norse hey, Gothic hawi, Old Frisian hē, Old High German houwi; see hew

British Dictionary definitions for make hay while the sun shines (2 of 3)

hay 2

hey

/ (heɪ) /

noun

a circular figure in country dancing
a former country dance in which the dancers wove in and out of a circle

Word Origin for hay

C16: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for make hay while the sun shines (3 of 3)

Hay
/ (heɪ) /

noun

Will. 1888–1949, British music-hall comedian, who later starred in films, such as Oh, Mr Porter! (1937)

Cultural definitions for make hay while the sun shines

Make hay while the sun shines

Take advantage of favorable circumstances; they may not last.

Idioms and Phrases with make hay while the sun shines (1 of 2)

make hay while the sun shines

Take advantage of favorable circumstances, as in Car sales have finally improved so we're making hay while the sun shines. This expression alludes to optimum dry weather for cutting grass. [Early 1500s]

Idioms and Phrases with make hay while the sun shines (2 of 2)

hay

see hit the hay; make hay while the sun shines; roll in the hay; that ain't hay.