moth bean

8.2

A small plant that makes edible seeds and grows well in hot, dry places

noun
/mɔθ bin/

Indian

: frijol polilla

Farmers plant moth beans to improve soil fertility and provide nutritious fodder for livestock.

Examples

The small yellow flowers of the moth bean develop into cylindrical pods containing edible seeds.
The moth bean thrives in hot, dry regions and is valued for its drought resistance.
I planted moth beans in my garden this year.
The moth bean is rich in protein.
Farmers plant moth beans to improve soil fertility and provide nutritious fodder for livestock.
The moth bean thrives in hot, dry regions and is valued for its drought resistance.
The small yellow flowers of the moth bean develop into cylindrical pods containing edible seeds.

Synonyms

Phaseolus aconitifolius

vsmoth bean

Specialized

9.9

A small Indian bean plant that people grow for food and to make soil better

is the common name used instead of a scientific term

Vigna aconitifolia

vsmoth bean

Specialized

9.9

A bean plant from India that grows in dry places and gives edible seeds and improves soil

is the common name form rather than the formal species name

Surface Forms

moth bean singular

moth beans plural

Morphology

moth + bean

This is a noun–noun compound where 'bean' names the category and 'moth' functions as a modifier, so a learner who knows both words will readily infer it denotes a type/variety of bean. While the precise botanical details (native range, appearance) are not predictable from the constituents, the core meaning 'a kind of bean' is compositionally transparent and follows a common cross-linguistic naming pattern.

Etymology

Moth bean may come from the plant's tiny seeds and small flowers that early farmers thought looked like a little moth on a bean plant. So the name stuck, and today moth bean means this small, tough bean people grow for food and to help dry soil.