| Bean | n. [ OE. bene, AS. beán; akin to D. boon, G. bohne, OHG. pōna, Icel. baun, Dan. bönne, Sw. böna, 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. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ 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, Dolichos Lablab; the common haricot beans, kidney beans, string beans, and pole beans, all included in Phaseolus vulgaris; the lower bush bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, variety nanus; Lima bean, Phaseolus lunatus; Spanish bean and scarlet runner, Phaseolus multiflorus; Windsor bean, the common bean of England, Faba vulgaris. [ 1913 Webster ] As an article of food beans are classed with vegetables. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. The popular name of other vegetable seeds or fruits, more or less resembling true beans. [ 1913 Webster ]
Bean aphis (Zool.), a plant louse (Aphis fabæ) which infests the bean plant. --
Bean fly (Zool.), a fly found on bean flowers. --
Bean goose (Zool.), a species of goose (Anser segetum). --
Bean weevil (Zool.), a small weevil that in the larval state destroys beans. The American species is Bruchus fabæ. --
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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