indian corn

(Bot.), A cereal plant of the genus Zea (Zea Mays), also simply called corn, used widely as a food; the maize, a native plant of America; more specifically: a primitive variety of Zea Mays having variegated kernels on each cob, in distinction from the more commonly used yellow corn; it is often used as decoration at Thanksgiving time. See Corn, and Maize. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

☞ In modern American usage, the word corn when unmodified usually refers to yellow corn, and Indian corn refers to the variegated variety. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]