beach pea

noun

1. either of two plants of the legume family, Lathyrus japonicus, of seashores of the North Temperate Zone, or L. littoralis, of the temperate western coast of North America, both having oblong leaves and clusters of pealike flowers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of beach pea¹

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805

Example Sentences

He liked the beach pea, (Lathyrus maritimus,) cooked green, as well as the cultivated.

From Project Gutenberg

Next, set thickly in a mass representing a stout bush, comes the fleshy beach pea with rosy purple flowers.

From Project Gutenberg

The first man for four days lay coiled up in the pod of the beach pea.

From Project Gutenberg

He liked the Beach-pea (Lathyrus maritimus), cooked green, as well as the cultivated.

From Project Gutenberg