vetch
vetch Lexical Profile
vetch Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The foliage or whole plant of various species of the genus Vicia or related leguminous genera (such as Astragalus, Securigera, or Hippocrepis), widely grown in agriculture as nitrogen-fixing green manure, cover crops, or livestock fodder.
"The farmer planted winter vetch across the fallow fields to enrich the soil with nitrogen before spring planting."
Any of various herbaceous climbing or trailing plants of the genus Vicia (family Fabaceae), native to temperate regions of Eurasia, North America, and South America, characterized by pinnate leaves ending in tendrils and pea-like flowers in shades of purple, blue, white, or yellow.
"Clusters of purple vetch bloomed along the sunny meadow border."
• Rhymes for vetch
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Middle English feche or veche, borrowed from Old North French veche (Old French vece), from Latin vicia, likely related to vincire ('to bind' or 'to twine') in reference to the plant's clinging tendrils.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.