A Mediterranean oat, Avena sterilis, having hygroscopic hairy husks which may spontaneously twist in a lifelike manner once detached from the stalk; usually in plural (with plural or singular concord).
Origin
Late 18th century.
Definition of animated oat in US English:
animated oat
noun
A Mediterranean oat, Avena sterilis, having hygroscopic hairy husks which may spontaneously twist in a lifelike manner once detached from the stalk; usually in plural (with plural or singular concord).