Note: The name is sometimes taken for the whole genus {Astragalus}, of which there are about two hundred species in North America, and even more elsewhere. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
milk vetch — milk′ vetch n. pln 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 • Etymology: 1590–1600 … From formal English to slang
milk vetch — n. [from the notion that it increases the secretion of milk in goats] any of a genus (Astragalus) of plants of the pea family, with deeply cut leaves, flowers in spikes or racemes, and, usually, inflated pods … English World dictionary
milk vetch — noun any of various plants of the genus Astragalus • Syn: ↑milk vetch • Hypernyms: ↑woody plant, ↑ligneous plant • Hyponyms: ↑wild licorice, ↑wild liquorice, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
milk-vetch — noun any of various plants of the genus Astragalus • Syn: ↑milk vetch • Hypernyms: ↑woody plant, ↑ligneous plant • Hyponyms: ↑wild licorice, ↑wild liquorice, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
milk vetch — Astragalus As*trag a*lus, n. [L. See {Astragal}.] 1. (Anat.) The ankle bone, or hock bone; the bone of the tarsus which articulates with the tibia at the ankle. [1913 Webster] 2. (Bot.) A genus of papilionaceous plants, of the tribe {Galege[ae]} … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
milk vetch — noun Etymology: from the popular belief that it increases the milk yield of goats Date: 1597 any of a genus (Astragalus) of annual or perennial leguminous herbs of north temperate regions … New Collegiate Dictionary
milk vetch — 1. a European plant, Astragalus glycyphyllos, of the legume family, believed to increase the secretion of milk in goats. 2. any herb of certain allied genera. [1590 1600] * * * … Universalium
milk vetch — /ˈmɪlk vɛtʃ/ (say milk vech) noun any small herb of the Northern Hemisphere genus Astragalus, especially A. hamosus, naturalised in Australian pastures …
milk-vetch — noun any of several species of flowering plants of the genus Astragalus … Wiktionary
milk vetch — noun a yellow flowered leguminous plant, grown in some regions for fodder. [Astragalus glycyphyllos.] … English new terms dictionary
