Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
STRAW
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English strēaw; akin to Old High German strō straw, Old English strewian to strew Date: before 12th century
1. stalks of grain after threshing, a natural or artificial heavy fiber used for weaving, plaiting, or braiding, a dry coarse stem especially of a cereal grass,
3. a. something of small worth or significance, something too insubstantial to provide support or help in a desperate situation , chaff 2,
4. something (as a hat) made of straw, a tube (as of paper, plastic, or glass) for sucking up a beverage, strawy adjective
II. adjective
Date: 15th century
made of straw , of, relating to, or used for straw , of the color of straw , of little or no value ; worthless , of, relating to, resembling, or being a straw man, of, relating to, or concerned with the discovery of preferences by means of a straw vote