pea1
[pee]
- the round, edible seed of a widely cultivated plant, Pisum sativum, of the legume family.
- the plant itself.
- the green, somewhat inflated pod of this plant.
- any of various related or similar plants or their seed, as the chickpea.
- something resembling a pea, especially in being small and round.
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- pertaining to, growing, containing, or cooked with peas: We cultivated some tomato vines and a pea patch.
- small or small and round (usually used in combination).
- pea coal.
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Origin of pea1
pea2
[pee]
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Origin of pea2
First recorded in 1825–35; perhaps short for peak1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for pea
Contemporary Examples
“This poor guy has a pea coat on,” he says, pointing to a well-dressed youngster in the front row.
Dan Malloy Is Progressives’ Dream Governor. So Why Isn’t He Winning?David Freedlander
October 30, 2014
“Pea Tear Griffon” is singing what goes up must come down while reading Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Extra protein, like pea protein for instance, or all organic and non-genetically modified ingredients are an added bonus.
“Protein enhancers such as whey, whole soybeans and pea protein are good, too,” Begun says.
Surely this baby will eat the same fresh chicken and pea mush as his father, complete with a diamond-encrusted spoon.
How Different Is Raising the Royal Baby From a Typical American Child?Kevin Fallon, Lizzie Crocker
July 23, 2013
Historical Examples
The grandfather sowed a bean under the table, and the grandmother a pea.
Russian Fairy TalesW. R. S. Ralston
The week passed by, and the old people saw that the pea had begun to sprout.
Russian Fairy TalesW. R. S. Ralston
They watered it regularly, and the pea set to work and grew higher than the izba.
Russian Fairy TalesW. R. S. Ralston
Suppose you had a pea on your head, it wouldn't be heavy to carry, would it?
The Boy with the U. S. Weather MenFrancis William Rolt-Wheeler
However, no wonder, as you had never heard of the thimble and pea game, but I will tell you.
LavengroGeorge Borrow
pea
- an annual climbing leguminous plant, Pisum sativum, with small white flowers and long green pods containing edible green seeds: cultivated in temperate regions
- the seed of this plant, eaten as a vegetable
- (as modifier)pea soup
- any of several other leguminous plants, such as the sweet pea, chickpea, and cowpea
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Word Origin
C17: from pease (incorrectly assumed to be a plural)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for pea
n.
early or mid-17c., false singular from Middle English pease (plural pesen), which was both single and collective (e.g. wheat, corn) but the "s" sound was mistaken for the plural inflection. From Old English pise (West Saxon), piose (Mercian) "pea," from Late Latin pisa, variant of Latin pisum "pea," from Greek pison "the pea," perhaps of Thracian or Phrygian origin [Klein].
In Southern U.S. and the Caribbean, used of other legumes as well. Pea soup is first recorded 1711 (pease-soup); applied to London fogs since at least 1849. Pea-shooter attested from 1803.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with pea
pea
see like as two peas in a pod.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.