butter bean

or butter·bean

noun

1. a variety of small-seeded lima bean, Phaseolus lunatus, grown in the southern U.S.
2. Midland and Southern U.S. any type of lima bean.

butter bean

noun

1. a variety of lima bean that has large pale flat edible seeds and is grown in the southern US

Word History and Origins

Origin of butter bean¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

From the vitamin and lycopene-rich tomatoes to all the protein and minerals from the butter beans alone, you will get a lot of what you need from just one bowl.

From Salon

You could say, “I had butter beans for breakfast,” if you really did.

From Los Angeles Times

Mama stopped helping Merry’s plate with butter beans.

From Literature

The main course was braised beef short ribs nestled on butter bean grits, topped with sorghum-glazed carrots and pine nuts, and garnished with pink dianthus and sea-thrift petals from the White House garden.

From Washington Post

The yellow squash soup was followed by braised beef short ribs with butter bean grits, sorghum-glazed carrots and pine nuts.

From New York Times