Archaic noun for grain, especially rice. No longer used in modern Japanese; replaced by 米 (こめ) or 穀物 (こくもつ).
In old documents, 御年 can refer to rice or grain.
Archaic noun for rice cultivation. Modern Japanese uses 稲作 (いなさく) or 米作り (こめづくり).
The word 御年 survives in records as a term for rice cultivation in ancient times.
The historical derivation is uncertain. The kanji 御 (honorific prefix) and 年 (year) may have been used phonetically or as ateji for an older native word related to grain or harvest.