wild bean

noun

1. groundnut ( def 1 ).
2. any of several other leguminous plants, especially of the genus Strophostyles.

Word History and Origins

Origin of wild bean¹

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80

Example Sentences

Founder Ramus Bo Bojesen has had a long career working with French Michelin restaurants and maintains a passion for chocolate – offered here in desserts and digestive warm cocoa concoctions made from wild beans from Bolivia. 

From Washington Times

We gathered the wild beans, and found them a very welcome addition to our diet.

From Project Gutenberg

There is a native wild bean found growing over an area of wide distribution in North America.

From Project Gutenberg

Their merchandise consisted of sand for sugar, wild beans for coffee, dried leaves for tea, pulverized earth for gunpowder, pebbles for bullets, and clear water for dangerous "fire-water."

From Project Gutenberg

The vegetation is almost tropically luxuriant—palms, wild pineapples, and ferns growing profusely, and the valleys being filled with wild beans and patches of taro.

From Project Gutenberg