moth bean
moth bean Lexical Profile
• noun
The small, brownish, protein-rich edible seed or sprout of the moth bean plant, widely used in South Asian cuisine.
"She prepared a traditional Maharashtrian curry using sprouted moth beans and an array of fragrant spices."
A drought-resistant, trailing herb of the legume family, native to India and Pakistan, cultivated primarily in arid and semi-arid regions for its edible seeds and as a forage crop.
"Agricultural researchers are studying the moth bean as a potential staple crop for regions experiencing severe droughts due to climate change."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The first element 'moth' derives from Hindi 'moṭh' (मोठ) or Marathi 'maṭh', referring to the lentil, and is completely unrelated to the English word for the flying insect. The second element is the native English 'bean'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.