χόρτος

A. enclosed place (v. sub fin.), but always with collat. notion of a feeding-place: in Il., farmyard, in which the cattle were kept, αὐλῆς ἐν χόρτῳ 11.774; αὐλῆς ἐν χόρτοισι 24.640.

2. generally, any feeding-ground, pasturage, freq. in pl., χόρτοι λέοντος, of Nemea, Pi. O. 13.44; χόρτοι εὔδενδροι E. IT 134 (lyr.); χόρτος οὐρανοῦ the expanse of heaven, Poet. ap. Hsch.

II. fodder, provender, esp. for horses and cattle, Hdt. 5.16 (of fish); θηρῶν ὀρείων χόρτον, οὐχ ἵππων λέγεις E. Alc. 495; grass, Hes. Op. 606, E. Rh. 771, 1 Ep.Cor. 3.12; χ. κοῦφος hay, X. An. 1.5.10; χ. ἐβλάστησεν, ἐξηράνθη, Ev.Matt. 13.26, 1 Ep.Pet. 1.24; ἄνθος χόρτου Ep.Jac. 1.10: opp. σῖτος (food for man), Hdt. 9.41, X. Cyr. 8.6.12; χόρτον ἔχει ἔπὶ τοῦ κέρατος as translation of the Lat. proverb, foenum habet in cornu, of a dangerous ox, Plu. Crass. 7.

b. green crop, [γῆ] ἐσπαρμένη χόρτῳ PTeb. 27.72 (ii B. C.), al.

2. Poet., food generally, δούλιος χ. Hippon. 35.6, cf. E. Cyc. 507 (lyr.), Crates Theb. 10; cf. χορτάζω. (Cf. Lat. hortus, Welsh garth 'fold, enclosure', Irish gort 'crop', 'field'.)