French \French\ (fr[e^]nch), prop. a. [AS. frencisc, LL.
   franciscus, from L. Francus a Frank: cf. OF. franceis,
   franchois, fran[,c]ois, F. fran[,c]ais. See Frank, a., and
   cf. Frankish.]
   Of or pertaining to France or its inhabitants.
   [1913 Webster]

   French bean (Bot.), the common kidney bean (Phaseolus
      vulgaris).

   French berry (Bot.), the berry of a species of buckthorn
      (Rhamnus catharticus), which affords a saffron, green or
      purple pigment.

   French casement (Arch.) See French window, under
      Window.

   French chalk (Min.), a variety of granular talc; -- used
      for drawing lines on cloth, etc. See under Chalk.

   French cowslip (Bot.) The Primula Auricula. See
      Bear's-ear.

   French fake (Naut.), a mode of coiling a rope by running it
      backward and forward in parallel bends, so that it may run
      freely.

   French honeysuckle (Bot.) a plant of the genus Hedysarum
      (H. coronarium); -- called also garland honeysuckle.
      

   French horn, a metallic wind instrument, consisting of a
      long tube twisted into circular folds and gradually
      expanding from the mouthpiece to the end at which the
      sound issues; -- called in France cor de chasse.

   French leave, an informal, hasty, or secret departure;
      esp., the leaving a place without paying one's debts.

   French pie [French (here used in sense of "foreign") + pie
      a magpie (in allusion to its black and white color)]
      (Zool.), the European great spotted woodpecker (Dryobstes
      major); -- called also wood pie.

   French polish.
   (a) A preparation for the surface of woodwork, consisting of
       gums dissolved in alcohol, either shellac alone, or
       shellac with other gums added.
   (b) The glossy surface produced by the application of the
       above.

   French purple, a dyestuff obtained from lichens and used
      for coloring woolen and silken fabrics, without the aid of
      mordants. --Ure.

   French red rouge.

   French rice, amelcorn.

   French roof (Arch.), a modified form of mansard roof having
      a nearly flat deck for the upper slope.

   French tub, a dyer's mixture of protochloride of tin and
      logwood; -- called also plum tub. --Ure.

   French window. See under Window.
      [1913 Webster]

Rice \Rice\, n. [F. riz (cf. Pr. ris, It. riso), L. oryza, Gr.
   ???, ???, probably from the Persian; cf. OPers. br[imac]zi,
   akin to Skr. vr[imac]hi; or perh. akin to E. rye. Cf. Rye.]
   (Bot.)
   A well-known cereal grass (Oryza sativa) and its seed. This
   plant is extensively cultivated in warm climates, and the
   grain forms a large portion of the food of the inhabitants.
   In America it grows chiefly on low, moist land, which can be
   overflowed.
   [1913 Webster]

   Ant rice. (Bot.) See under Ant.

   French rice. (Bot.) See Amelcorn.

   Indian rice., a tall reedlike water grass (Zizania
      aquatica), bearing panicles of a long, slender grain,
      much used for food by North American Indians. It is common
      in shallow water in the Northern States. Called also
      water oat, Canadian wild rice, etc.

   Mountain rice, any species of an American genus
      (Oryzopsis) of grasses, somewhat resembling rice.

   Rice bunting. (Zool.) Same as Ricebird.

   Rice hen (Zool.), the Florida gallinule.

   Rice mouse (Zool.), a large dark-colored field mouse
      (Calomys palistris) of the Southern United States.

   Rice paper, a kind of thin, delicate paper, brought from
      China, -- used for painting upon, and for the manufacture
      of fancy articles. It is made by cutting the pith of a
      large herb (Fatsia papyrifera, related to the ginseng)
      into one roll or sheet, which is flattened out under
      pressure. Called also pith paper.

   Rice troupial (Zool.), the bobolink.

   Rice water, a drink for invalids made by boiling a small
      quantity of rice in water.

   Rice-water discharge (Med.), a liquid, resembling rice
      water in appearance, which is vomited, and discharged from
      the bowels, in cholera.

   Rice weevil (Zool.), a small beetle (Calandra oryzae, or
      Sitophilus oryzae) which destroys rice, wheat, and
      Indian corn by eating out the interior; -- called also
      black weevil.
      [1913 Webster]

Amelcorn \Am"el*corn`\, n. [Ger. amelkorn: cf. MHG. amel, amer,
   spelt, and L. amylum starch, Gr. ?.]
   A variety of wheat from which starch is produced; -- called
   also French rice.
   [1913 Webster]