Definition of "ratoon" in English

noun

1. A shoot sprouting from the root of a cropped plant, especially sugar cane.

   • 1803, John Browne Cutting, “A Succinct History of Jamaica” in Robert Charles Dallas, 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.

2. A rattan cane.

   • 1660, Samuel Pepys, 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. (intransitive, of a plant) To sprout ratoons.

2. (transitive) To cut a plant, especially sugar cane, so that it will produce ratoons.

   • 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.