- Main Entry:
- buck·wheat
- Pronunciation:
-
\ˈbək-ˌhwēt, -ˌwēt\
- Function:
- noun
- Etymology:
- Dutch boekweit, from Middle Dutch boecweit, from boec- (akin to Old High German buohha beech tree) + weit wheat
— more at beech
- Date:
- 1548
1: any of a genus (Fagopyrum of the family Polygonaceae, the buckwheat family) of Eurasian herbs with alternate leaves, clusters of apetalous pinkish-white flowers, and triangular seeds
; especially : either of two plants (F. esculentum and F. tartaricum) cultivated for their edible seeds2: the seed of a buckwheat used as a cereal grain
