alfalfa

[ al-fal-fuh ]

noun

1. a plant, Medicago sativa, of the legume family, usually having bluish-purple flowers, originating in western Asia and widely cultivated as a forage crop.

alfalfa

/ ælˈfælfə /

noun

1. a leguminous plant, Medicago sativa, of Europe and Asia, having compound leaves with three leaflets and clusters of small purplish flowers. It is widely cultivated for forage and as a nitrogen fixer and used as a commercial source of chlorophyll Also calledlucerne

Word History and Origins

Origin of alfalfa¹

First recorded in 1835–45; from Spanish, variant of alfalfez, from Spanish Arabic al “the” + faṣfaṣah from Persian ispist “lucerne”

Word History and Origins

Origin of alfalfa¹

C19: from Spanish, from Arabic al-fasfasah, from al the + fasfasah the best sort of fodder

Example Sentences

"That means we can be pretty reckless with how we're growing and in what environments. That's why you see alfalfa being grown in the desert."

From Salon

Matt Cooley, a second-generation farmer of walnuts, tomatoes, sunflowers, wheat and alfalfa, decided to grow a few pumpkins for Halloween and sell them by the side of the road.

From Los Angeles Times

He said after workers “scratch up” the ground and reseed the field, alfalfa should grow back and thrive.

From Los Angeles Times

It was commonly used on alfalfa, almonds, citrus, cotton, grapes and walnuts.

From Los Angeles Times

Cheese is also crazily water intensive, using 516 gallons for each pound, because dairy cows feed on thirsty crops like alfalfa.

From Salon