milk vetch

milk vetch

n.1. Any of various plants of the genus Astragalus of the pea family, having pinnate, compound leaves and clusters of purple, white, or yellowish flowers. Also called astragalus.2. See astragalus.

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[From the belief that it increases the milk yield of goats.]

milk vetch

n (Plants) any of various leguminous plants of the genus Astragalus, esp A. glycyphyllos, with clusters of purple, white, or yellowish flowers: formerly reputed to increase milk production in goats

milk′ vetch`

n. any of various plants of the genus Astragalus, of the legume family, esp. a European plant, A. glycyphyllos, believed to increase the secretion of milk in goats. [1590–1600]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

milk vetch - any of various plants of the genus Astragalusmilk-vetchAstragalus, genus Astragalus - large genus of annual or perennial herbs or shrubs of north temperate regions; largest genus in the family LeguminosaeAstragalus glycyphyllos, wild liquorice, wild licorice - European perennialalpine milk vetch, Astragalus alpinus - perennial of mountainous areas of Eurasia and North AmericaAstragalus danicus, purple milk vetch - perennial of southern and western Europe having dense racemes of purple or violet flowersligneous plant, woody plant - a plant having hard lignified tissues or woody parts especially stems