sainfoin

American  

[seyn-foin] / ˈseɪn fɔɪn /

noun

1. a Eurasian plant, Onobrychis viciifolia, of the legume family, having pinnate leaves and clusters of pink flowers, used for forage.

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sainfoin British  

/ ˈsænfɔɪn /

noun

1. a Eurasian perennial leguminous plant, Onobrychis viciifolia, widely grown as a forage crop, having pale pink flowers and curved pods

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Etymology

Origin of sainfoin

1620–30; < French, equivalent to Middle French sain (< Latin sānus healthy) + foin (< Latin fēnum, faenum hay)

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sainfoin

Fiver and Acorn followed him out and fell to nibbling at a patch of sainfoin.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

If this plant should ever be grown to any considerable extent in the mountain States, much that has been said with reference to the place for alfalfa in the rotation will also apply to sainfoin.

From Clovers and How to Grow Them by Shaw, Thomas

It feeds on the wild heartsease, also on sainfoin and borage.

From British Butterfiles Figures and Descriptions of Every Native Species by Coleman, W. S. (William Stephen)

Then upon thyme and tansy think, On fields of sainfoin, ruddy pink, On dells deep down and rocks upreared, On lad's-love and on old-man's-beard, On spearmint and on silver sages, On colewort and on saxifrages!

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 146, February 4, 1914 by Seaman, Owen, Sir

It has been found more difficult to get a good stand of sainfoin plants than of other varieties of the clover family.

From Clovers and How to Grow Them by Shaw, Thomas