Peas

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [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]