Indian pea
- noun
- UK
:
guisante indio
- The farmer decided to grow Indian pea as a nutritious forage crop this year.
Examples
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In some drought-prone regions, Indian pea is a valuable source of protein.
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The Indian pea is a staple in many Indian dishes.
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Exporters ship Indian pea seeds from India to various international markets.
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Many farmers grow Indian peas for their nutritional value.
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In some drought-prone regions, Indian pea is a valuable source of protein.
-
The farmer decided to grow Indian pea as a nutritious forage crop this year.
-
Exporters ship Indian pea seeds from India to various international markets.
Synonyms
A plant grown for animal feed and sometimes for people to eat in dry areas
A small plant grown each year for animal feed and food in dry areas
A yearly plant whose seeds are eaten by people and used as animal feed in India
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is compositionally built from 'Indian' (pertaining to India) + 'pea' (a kind of legume), so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer it refers to a pea associated with India (origin, use, or variety). This adjectival modification pattern is cross-linguistically common and follows a straightforward English adjective + noun structure, making the meaning transparent despite any botanical specifics.
Etymology
Indian pea probably comes from European traders who found this tough little pea growing in India and brought its seeds home. People linked Indian to where it grew and pea to the plant used as 'food' and 'forage', so the name stayed.
