oats

Noun

oats sg or pl

1. (plural, singular) A mass of oat plants (genus Avena, especially Avena sativa).
   • Oats are in the north corner of the farm.
   • Usually oats is last in a rotation and does not get the fertilizer that other feed grains get.
2. (plural, singular) Seeds of an oat plant, especially prepared as food.
   • Oats is a heart-healthy breakfast food.
   • Oats are good for you.
3. (plural, singular, slang) Sexual intercourse, sexual satisfaction; semen.
   • Must I beat the Bush while you catch the Game ;
     Sow your wild oates,
     And mind not her wild notes,
     Of Alack &c.
     […]
     [She] bid me fill, fill, fill
     Her Sack &c.
     But twas all in Vaine
     For I had spilt my graine
     With a Thwack, &c.a. 1707, George Farquhar, The Works of George Farquhar, published 1988, page 55
   • “[…]he’s young,” he added excusingly. “And I suppose he’s just feeling his oats a bit.”
   • “Well he can save his damned oats up until we get into port—like any other sailor. If I catch him making those sort of passes at any woman who happens to be making a passage with us, Mister Samuals, I’ll disrate him and send him to the fo’c’sle!”1945, Robert Close, Love me Sailor, published 1972, page 62

   Synonyms:

   wild oats, seed, aphrodisia, carnal knowledge, coitus, coition, commerce, commixtion, congress, conjunction