Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Bean?

\Bean\ (b[=e]n), n. [OE. bene, AS. be['a]n; akin to D. boon, G. bohne, OHG. p[=o]na, Icel. baun, Dan. b["o]nne, Sw. b["o]na, and perh. to Russ. bob, L. faba.] 1. (Bot.) A name given to the seed of certain leguminous herbs, chiefly of the genera {Faba}, {Phaseolus}, and {Dolichos}; also, to the herbs. Note: The origin and classification of many kinds are still doubtful. Among true beans are: the black-eyed bean and China bean, included in {Dolichos Sinensis}; black Egyptian bean or hyacinth bean, {D. Lablab}; the common haricot beans, kidney beans, string beans, and pole beans, all included in {Phaseolus vulgaris}; the lower bush bean, {Ph. vulgaris}, variety {nanus}; Lima bean, {Ph. lunatus}; Spanish bean and scarlet runner, {Ph. maltiflorus}; Windsor bean, the common bean of England, {Faba vulgaris}. As an article of food beans are classed with vegetables. 2. The popular name of other vegetable seeds or fruits, more or less resembling true beans. {Bean aphis} (Zo["o]l.), a plant louse ({Aphis fab[ae]}) which infests the bean plant. {Bean fly} (Zo["o]l.), a fly found on bean flowers. {Bean goose} (Zo["o]l.), a species of goose ({Anser segetum}). {Bean weevil} (Zo["o]l.), a small weevil that in the larval state destroys beans. The American species in {Bruchus fab[ae]}. {Florida bean} (Bot.), the seed of {Mucuna urens}, a West Indian plant. The seeds are washed up on the Florida shore, and are often polished and made into ornaments. {Ignatius bean}, or {St. Ignatius's bean} (Bot.), a species of {Strychnos}. {Navy bean}, the common dried white bean of commerce; probably so called because an important article of food in the navy. {Pea bean}, a very small and highly esteemed variety of the edible white bean; -- so called from its size. {Sacred bean}. See under {Sacred}. {Screw bean}. See under {Screw}. {Sea bean}. (a) Same as {Florida bean}. (b) A red bean of unknown species used for ornament. {Tonquin bean}, or {Tonka bean}, the fragrant seed of {Dipteryx odorata}, a leguminous tree. {Vanilla bean}. See under {Vanilla}.
\ [Prob. fr. a native name.] (Bot.) The seed of the wild licorice ({Abrus precatorius}) used by the people of India for beads in rosaries and necklaces, as a standard weight, etc.; -- called also {jumble bead}.