King James Bible Dictionary

Properly so called, was not in use among the Hebrews; straw was used instead. They cut the grass green as it was needed. The word rendered "hay" in Proverbs 27:25 means the first shoots of the grass. In Isaiah 15:6 the Revised Version has correctly "grass," where the Authorized Version has "hay."

Proverbs 27:25; Isaiah 15:6; 1 Corinthians 3:12

(Heb. chatsir), the rendering of the Authorized Version in (Proverbs 27:25) and Isaiah 15:6 Of the Hebrew term, which occurs frequently in the Old Testament, and denotes "grass" of any kind. It is quite probable that the modern Orientals do not make hay in our sense of the term; but it is certain that the ancients did mow their grass, and probably made use of the dry material. See (Psalms 37:2) We may remark that there is an express Hebrew term for "dry grass" or "hay," viz. chashash , which, in the only two places where the word occurs, (Isaiah 5:24; 33:11) is rendered "chaff" in the Authorized Version.

HAY, noun Grass cut and dried for fodder; grass prepared for preservation.

Make hay while the sun shines.

To dance the hay to dance in a ring.

HAY, verb transitive To dry or cure grass for preservation.

HAY, noun A hedge.

1. A net which incloses the haunt of an animal.

HAY, verb transitive To lay snares for rabbits.