butter bean
butter bean Lexical Profile
• noun
A large, flat, edible seed of the Lima bean plant (Phaseolus lunatus), known for its pale color and creamy, buttery texture when cooked.
"She simmered the butter beans with a smoked ham hock until they were tender and deeply flavorful."
The widely cultivated plant of the legume family that produces these edible pale seeds.
"The farmer planted several rows of butter beans in the vegetable garden shortly after the last frost of the season."
Word Nuance & Usage
In British English, 'butter bean' is the standard term for the large Lima bean, while in the American South, it typically refers to a smaller, flatter, and younger variety of the same species.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 19th century as a descriptive compound of 'butter' and 'bean', so named for the seed's pale yellow-white color and its rich, creamy texture when cooked.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.