kaoliang

noun

kao·​liang

¦kau̇lē¦äŋ

variants or less commonly koaliang

¦kōl-

or kowliang

¦kau̇l-,

¦kōl-

plural -s

1

: any of various grain sorghums that have slender dry pithy stalks, open erect panicles, and small white or brown seeds and are grown chiefly in China and Manchuria for their grain which is used for food and stalks which are used for fodder, thatching, and fuel

2

: a spiritous liquor made in China from the juice of kaoliang stalks

Word History

Etymology

Chinese (Pekingese) kȧo¹ liang², literally, tall grain, from kao¹ high, tall + liang² grain

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