kaffir bean, noun phrase

Origin:
EnglishShow more kaffir + English bean.
obsolescent, offensive
1. The cow pea Vigna sinensis, cultivated as a vegetable, as a food for livestock, and for soil enrichment.
1839 T. Shone Diary. 13 Aug.Sarah planted some water melons and kaffre beans.
1913 H.A. Junod Life of S. Afr. Tribe II. 510That year the Kafir beans were plentiful at Mpfumu.
1925 Off. Yr Bk of Union No. 7, 1924 441The Kaffir Bean..makes excellent hay or ensilage, and when ploughed in, builds up the fertility of the soil.
1936 P.M. Clark Autobiog. of Old Drifter 166I roused some of the natives and asked for food...Some Kaffir beans and some thick milk were brought.
1968 S. Cloete Chetoko (1976) 115He grew his tobacco here, and marakas, mealies, Kaffir beans, and pumpkins.
1972 Farmer’s Weekly 21 Apr. 55The latest offical estimate of the dry bean crop excluding kaffir beans reveals that only about 5000 tons more than last year are expected.
2. lucky bean sense 2 a. Also attributive.
1839 T. Shone Diary. 29 Aug.This day Henry found the chain we lost at the top of a Kaffre bean tree where the Monkey had got fast when he ran away, and died there.
1972 Std Encycl. of Sn Afr. VI. 264The large, poisonous seeds, scarlet with a black spot, are known as lucky beans, Kaffir beans, Kaffrarian peas or cocky-doodles.
The cow pea Vigna sinensis, cultivated as a vegetable, as a food for livestock, and for soil enrichment.
lucky bean sense 2 a. Also attributive.
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obsolete or obsolescent
derogatory or offensive
kaffir, nounn. & adjectiveadj.kaffir beer, noun phrasen. phr.
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