roughage

[ruhf-ij] /ˈrʌf ɪdʒ/

noun

rough or coarse material.

any coarse, rough food for livestock.

fiber (def 9).

Origin

1880-85; rough + -age

Examples from the web for roughage

Beans, wholegrain cereals such as oats and many fruit and vegetables are high in soluble fibre or roughage.
It is of such uncomplicated roughage that movie second features are made.
But a so-called salad of warm sauteed leeks, endive and watercress is more roughage than anyone needs.
All the roughage you will be eating can fill you up quickly and the concern is that you won't be getting enough calories or fat.
Unfortunately, my gastroenterologist has informed me there is a need for roughage.
His diet was balanced with good intake of roughage and fluids.
Microbes living in termite guts ferment woody roughage into sugars.
Corn silage is fed as a roughage in many feedlot-finishing diets.
Effects of meal feeding frequency and roughage availability on behaviors of stabled horses.
Finishing feedlots for cattle tend to use high-quality hay for roughage and nutrient value, supplemented with concentrate feeds.

British Dictionary definitions for roughage

/ˈrʌfɪdʒ/

noun

the coarse indigestible constituents of food or fodder, which provide bulk to the diet and promote normal bowel function See also dietary fibre

any rough or coarse material

Word Origin and History for roughage

1883, "rough grass or weeds," from rough (adj.) + -age. Meaning "coarse, bulky food" first recorded 1927.

roughage in Medicine

roughage rough·age (rŭf'ĭj)
n.
See fiber.