snap bean

noun

1. a crisp bean pod, as a green bean or a wax bean, that is easily broken into pieces for cooking.

snap bean

noun

1. any of various bean plants that are cultivated in the US for their crisp edible unripe pods
2. the pod of such a plant

Word History and Origins

Origin of snap bean¹

An Americanism dating back to 1760–70

Word History and Origins

Origin of snap bean¹

C19: so called because the pods are broken into pieces for eating

Example Sentences

Great-uncle Edisto always cooked his famous corn bread and good black snap beans and corn on the cob, if it was summer.

From Literature

Chickpeas with zucchini, snap beans and pesto provided a crunchy medium to contrast the soft and tender cooked vegetables that were still on the table.

From Seattle Times

There were lots of green snap beans, stalks of yellow sweet corn, Sea Island red peas, crookneck squash, benne seeds, and purple okra that looked like fingers reaching for the sky.

From Literature

For snap beans, wait until you can see individual seeds bulge through the pod.

From Salon

These include vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, summer squash and snap beans.

From Seattle Times