Lewis & Short

ăvēna, ae, f. [v. 1. aveo init.; orig. nourishment].

  1. I.
    1. A. Oats; and specif., common oats, Gr. βρόμος: Avena sativa, Linn.; Verg. G. 1, 77; Col. 2, 10, 32; Hor. S. 2, 6, 84.
    2. B. Wild or barren oats, a weed, Gr. αἰγίλωψ: Avena fatua, Linn.; Cato, R. R. 37, 4; Cic. Fin. 5, 30, 91; Serv. ad Verg. G. 1, 154; Plin. 18, 17, 44, § 149.
  2. II. In gen.
    1. A. Any stem or stalk of grass or grain, a straw, etc.: (linum) tam gracili avenā. Plin. 19, 1, 1, § 5; 24, 18, 103, § 168.
      Used for a shepherd’s pipe, Ov. M. 8, 192.
    2. B. Poet., a shepherd’s pipe, reed-pipe: Silvestrem tenui Musam meditaris avenā, Verg. E. 1, 2: perlucenti cantus meditabar avenā, Tib. 3, 4, 71: est modulatus avenā Carmen, id. 2, 1, 53: pastor junctis pice cantat avenis, Ov. Tr. 5, 10, 25: et structis cantat avenis, id. M. 1, 677: Angustā cantare licet videaris avenā, Dum tua multorum vincat avena tubas, Mart. 8, 3 fin.