'Peas' definitions:

Definition of 'Peas'

From: GCIDE
  • Pea \Pea\, n.; pl. Peas (p[=e]z) or Pease (p[=e]z). [OE. pese, fr. AS. pisa, or OF. peis, F. pois; both fr. L. pisum; cf. Gr. pi`sos, pi`son. The final s was misunderstood in English as a plural ending. Cf. Pease.]
  • 1. (Bot.) A plant, and its fruit, of the genus Pisum, of many varieties, much cultivated for food. It has a papilionaceous flower, and the pericarp is a legume, popularly called a pod. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: When a definite number, more than one, is spoken of, the plural form peas is used; as, the pod contained nine peas; but, in a collective sense, the form pease is preferred; as, a bushel of pease; they had pease at dinner. This distinction is not always preserved, the form peas being used in both senses. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A name given, especially in the Southern States, to the seed of several leguminous plants (species of Dolichos, Cicer, Abrus, etc.) esp. those having a scar (hilum) of a different color from the rest of the seed. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: The name pea is given to many leguminous plants more or less closely related to the common pea. See the Phrases, below. [1913 Webster]
  • Beach pea (Bot.), a seashore plant, Lathyrus maritimus.
  • Black-eyed pea, a West Indian name for {Dolichos sph[ae]rospermus} and its seed.
  • Butterfly pea, the American plant Clitoria Mariana, having showy blossoms.
  • Chick pea. See Chick-pea.
  • Egyptian pea. Same as Chick-pea.
  • Everlasting pea. See under Everlasting.
  • Glory pea. See under Glory, n.
  • Hoary pea, any plant of the genus Tephrosia; goat's rue.
  • Issue pea, Orris pea. (Med.) See under Issue, and Orris.
  • Milk pea. (Bot.) See under Milk.
  • Pea berry, a kind of a coffee bean or grain which grows single, and is round or pea-shaped; often used adjectively; as, pea-berry coffee.
  • Pea bug. (Zool.) Same as Pea weevil.
  • Pea coal, a size of coal smaller than nut coal.
  • Pea crab (Zool.), any small crab of the genus Pinnotheres, living as a commensal in bivalves; esp., the European species (Pinnotheres pisum) which lives in the common mussel and the cockle.
  • Pea dove (Zool.), the American ground dove.
  • Pea-flower tribe (Bot.), a suborder (Papilionace[ae]) of leguminous plants having blossoms essentially like that of the pea. --G. Bentham.
  • Pea maggot (Zool.), the larva of a European moth ({Tortrix pisi}), which is very destructive to peas.
  • Pea ore (Min.), argillaceous oxide of iron, occurring in round grains of a size of a pea; pisolitic ore.
  • Pea starch, the starch or flour of the common pea, which is sometimes used in adulterating wheat flour, pepper, etc.
  • Pea tree (Bot.), the name of several leguminous shrubs of the genus Caragana, natives of Siberia and China.
  • Pea vine. (Bot.) (a) Any plant which bears peas. (b) A kind of vetch or tare, common in the United States (Lathyrus Americana, and other similar species).
  • Pea weevil (Zool.), a small weevil (Bruchus pisi) which destroys peas by eating out the interior.
  • Pigeon pea. (Bot.) See Pigeon pea.
  • Sweet pea (Bot.), the annual plant Lathyrus odoratus; also, its many-colored, sweet-scented blossoms. [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'Peas'