Category:Legume

Leg"ume, n. Etym: [F. légume, L. legumen, fr. legere to gather. So called because they may be gathered without cutting. See Legend.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A pod dehiscent into two pieces or valves, and having the seed attached at one suture, as that of the pea.

Note: In the latter circumstance, it differs from a siliqua, in which the seeds are attached to both sutures. In popular use, a legume is called a pod, or cod; as, pea pod, or peas cod.

2. pl.

Defn: The fruit of leguminous plants, as peas, beans, lupines; pulse.