sweet pea

noun

1. a climbing plant, Lathyrus odoratus, of the legume family, having sweet-scented flowers.

sweet pea

noun

1. a climbing leguminous plant, Lathyrus odoratus, of S Europe, widely cultivated for its butterfly-shaped fragrant flowers of delicate pastel colours

Word History and Origins

Origin of sweet pea¹

First recorded in 1725–35

Example Sentences

Owner and chief Daniel Humm’s surprising pivot from traditional gourmet stand-bys like roast duck and lobster to meditations on sweet peas has set the culinary world abuzz.

From Quartz

It is a sight worth crossing many continents to look upon—a sweet-pea farm in full bloom.

From Project Gutenberg

And there were other red and white and blue flowers, too, but the sweet-pea bowl in the center was the finest of all.

From Project Gutenberg

She began to pick the sweet-pea blossoms, and soon had a large bunch of them.

From Project Gutenberg

This same pattern is used for many different flowers—the wild rose, apple blossom, sweet pea, and for foliage.

From Project Gutenberg

Maclane slapped his knee and looked toward the sweet-pea vines as if calling on them to agree with him.

From Project Gutenberg