sainfoin

American  

[seyn-foin] / ˈseɪn fɔɪn /

noun

1. a Eurasian plant, Onobrychis viciifolia, of the legume family, having pinnate leaves and clusters of pink flowers, used for forage.

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sainfoin British  

/ ˈsænfɔɪn /

noun

1. a Eurasian perennial leguminous plant, Onobrychis viciifolia, widely grown as a forage crop, having pale pink flowers and curved pods

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Etymology

Origin of sainfoin

1620–30; < French, equivalent to Middle French sain (< Latin sānus healthy) + foin (< Latin fēnum, faenum hay)

Example Sentences

Fiver and Acorn followed him out and fell to nibbling at a patch of sainfoin.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

The land that has been lost to the plough is found to be still further augmented when an inquiry is instituted into the area devoted to clover, sainfoin and grasses under rotation.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

It has been found more difficult to get a good stand of sainfoin plants than of other varieties of the clover family.

From Clovers and How to Grow Them by Shaw, Thomas

Broom, and cytisus, and hawthorn mingled with roses, gladiolus, and sainfoin.

From Sketches and Studies in Italy and Greece, Second Series by Brown, Horatio Robert Forbes

Because of this it is specially important that sainfoin shall be sown on a clean seed-bed.

From Clovers and How to Grow Them by Shaw, Thomas