also: わさだ
noun
field of early-ripening rice
Refers to a paddy where rice is planted and harvested earlier than usual. Often used in place names, most famously Waseda University (早稲田大学).
この地域では、早稲田で早生品種の米を作っている。
In this area, they grow early-ripening rice varieties in the early-ripening paddies.
早稲田大学の名前は、この早稲田という地名に由来
The name of Waseda University comes from the place name Waseda, meaning 'early-ripening rice paddy'.
早生 (わせ) means 'early ripening' or 'early crop' and is the root of 早稲田. 早稲田 specifically refers to the field itself.
Compound of 早 (early) + 稲 (rice plant) + 田 (field). The reading わせだ is a combination of 早生 (わせ, early ripening) and 田 (だ, field). The alternate reading わさだ is a variant.