n. a plant, Brassica napus, grown as food for sheep and for its seed, from which oil is made. Also called COLZA, COLE. rape-cake rape-seed pressed into a flat shape after the extraction of oil and used as manure or cattle food. rape-oil an oil made from rape-seed and used as a lubricant and in foodstuffs.
[ ME f. L rapum, rapa turnip ]