1793 T. Martyn III. §76 It [sc. yellow medick] may probably turn out not to be superior to the purple Medick or Lucern.
1915 F. S. Harris & G. Stewart xxi. 257 It [sc. Alfalfa] is Arabic and means best fodder... A few of the other names are Mexican clover.., purple medick, cultivated medicago [etc.].
1974 I. 230/3 Alfalfa, also called lucerne and purple medic, a perennial clover-like plant (Medicago sativa) of the pea family.