buck bean

noun

1. a bog plant, Menyanthes trifoliata, of the gentian family, having narrow clusters of white or pink flowers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of buck bean¹

1570–80; earlier buckes bean, translation of Dutch boksboon

Example Sentences

The bog-bean, or buck-bean, with white lace-like flowers may be seen occasionally in stagnant swamps.

From Project Gutenberg

In the next meadow they came upon beds of Menyanthes—an ugly name, and its common one of buck-bean is not much better.

From Project Gutenberg