Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Legume
Leg′ume
(lĕg′ū̍m or lē̍-gūm′)
, Noun.
[F.
légume
, L. legumen
, fr. legere
to gather. So called because they may be gathered without cutting. See Legend
.] 1.
(Bot.)
A pod dehiscent into two pieces or valves, and having the seed attached at one suture, as that of the pea.
☞ In the latter circumstance, it differs from a siliqua, in which the seeds are attached to both sutures. In popular use, a legume is called a pod, or cod; as, pea pod, or peas cod.
2.
pl.
The fruit of leguminous plants, as peas, beans, lupines; pulse.