velvet bean

noun

1. a vine, Mucuna deeringiana, of the legume family, having long clusters of purplish flowers and densely hairy pods, grown in warm regions for forage or as an ornamental.

Word History and Origins

Origin of velvet bean¹

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Example Sentences

He mentions the velvet bean, which contains high concentrations of a precursor to dopamine.

From The Guardian

In Zimbabwe, some farmers in Mashonaland East province have adapted to the dryer weather by growing drought-resistant feed for their livestock, such as cowpea or velvet beans, alongside maize, the region’s staple crop.

From Reuters

Future issues will treat such subjects as cowpeas, soy beans, peanuts, velvet beans, rice, sugar, cane, silos, feeds and feeding, weeds, insects, etc.

From Project Gutenberg

The story of the velvet bean is really one of the romances of agriculture.

From Project Gutenberg

Cowpeas, soja beans, beggarweed, velvet beans, alfalfa and melilotus can all be grown in the pecan area.

From Project Gutenberg