Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Vetch
Vetch
(vĕch)
, Noun.
[Also
fitch
; OE. ficche
, feche
, for veche
, OF. veche
, vecce
, vesche
, vesce
, F. vesce
, fr. L. vicia
.] (Bot.)
Any leguminous plant of the genus
Vicia
, some species of which are valuable for fodder. The common species is Vicia sativa
. ☞ The name is also applied to many other leguminous plants of different genera; as the chichling vetch, of the genus
Lathyrus
; the horse vetch, of the genus Hippocrepis
; the kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria
); the milk vetch, of the genus Astragalus
; the licorice vetch, or wild licorice (Abrus precatorius
). Webster 1828 Edition
Vetch
VETCH
,Noun.
A plant of the leguminous kind, with papilionaceous flowers, of the genus Vicia. It is a common name of most species of the genus. The name is also applied, with various epithets, to many other leguminous plants of different genera; as the chichling vetch, of the genus Lathyrus; the horseshoe vetch, of the genus Hippocrepis; the milk vetch, of the genus Astragalus, &c.