velvet bean

noun

Definition of velvet bean

1 : cowhage especially : a cowhage (Mucuna pruriens var. utilis) that is sometimes grown in the southern U.S. for green manure and grazing

2 : the seed of the velvet bean that is often used as feed for livestock (such as cattle and hogs)

Examples of velvet bean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web One approach that’s been especially fruitful for zeroing in on non-histamine itch is to poke people with tiny hairs (or spicules) from a tropical plant called cowhage, or velvet bean. — Katherine Harmon Courage, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'velvet bean.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more