ratoon

Alternative forms

 * rattoon

Noun

 * 1) A shoot sprouting from the root of a cropped plant, especially sugar cane.
 * 2) * 1803, John Browne Cutting, “A Succinct History of Jamaica” in, 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.
 * 1) A rattan cane.
 * 2) * 1660,, 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.
 * 1) A rattan cane.
 * 2) * 1660,, 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.

Verb

 * 1)  To sprout ratoons.
 * 2)  To cut a plant, especially sugar cane, so that it will produce ratoons.
 * 3) *  1969, M. Menzel; F. Wilson, "Genetic Relationships in Hibiscus Sect. Furcaria," Brittonia, vol. 21, no. 2, p. 100,
 * Attempts to propagate them by cuttings (of flowering shoots) and to ratoon the old plants in the greenhouse in November were unsuccessful.
 * Attempts to propagate them by cuttings (of flowering shoots) and to ratoon the old plants in the greenhouse in November were unsuccessful.

Derived terms

 * ratoonable
 * ratoon crop