milk vetch

noun

: any of a genus (Astragalus) of annual or perennial leguminous herbs of north temperate regions

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The Borrego milk vetch is actually a rare and endangered native plant that needs to plumb deep into the sand to find water. Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2023 In the Cadiz Dunes Wilderness, herbs like the Borrego milk vetch somehow thrive among the sandy hills. Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2023 Overall, fewer than 3,000 individual Braunton’s milk vetch plants persist in a region spanning about 80 miles from east to west and 25 miles from north to south. Louis Sahagunstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'milk vetch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from the popular belief that it increases the milk yield of goats

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of milk vetch was in 1597

Dictionary Entries Near milk vetch

Cite this Entry

“Milk vetch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/milk%20vetch. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!


Love It or Hate It

  • heart-fire
  • When asked about her blind date, Carol spoke for hours with vitriol.
Spell It

Hear a word and type it out. How many can you get right?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY