History of North America

Why corn is called corn?

The English word "corn" is derived from the Old Germanic word "korn", which was used to refer to any type of grain or seed used as food. In fact, the word "corn" was originally used in England to refer to any cereal crop, including wheat, barley, oats, and rye, but it eventually became specifically associated with maize in North America.

However, the term "corn" has different meanings in different parts of the world. In the United States and Canada, "corn" almost always refers to maize, also known as Indian corn. In other English-speaking countries, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia, "corn" typically refers to wheat, while maize is called "maize" or "sweetcorn". In Europe, the word "corn" is often used to refer to the grains used to make bread, while maize is called "maize" or "mealies".