From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Pea \Pea\, n.; pl. {Peas} (p[=e]z) or {Pease} (p[=e]z). [OE.
pese, fr. AS. pisa, or OF. peis, F. pois; both fr. L. pisum;
cf. Gr. pi`sos, pi`son. The final s was misunderstood in
English as a plural ending. Cf. {Pease}.]
1. (Bot.) A plant, and its fruit, of the genus {Pisum}, of
many varieties, much cultivated for food. It has a
papilionaceous flower, and the pericarp is a legume,
popularly called a pod.
[1913 Webster]
Note: When a definite number, more than one, is spoken of,
the plural form peas is used; as, the pod contained
nine peas; but, in a collective sense, the form pease
is preferred; as, a bushel of pease; they had pease at
dinner. This distinction is not always preserved, the
form peas being used in both senses.
[1913 Webster]
2. A name given, especially in the Southern States, to the
seed of several leguminous plants (species of {Dolichos},
{Cicer}, {Abrus}, etc.) esp. those having a scar (hilum)
of a different color from the rest of the seed.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The name pea is given to many leguminous plants more or
less closely related to the common pea. See the
Phrases, below.
[1913 Webster]
{Beach pea} (Bot.), a seashore plant, {Lathyrus maritimus}.
{Black-eyed pea}, a West Indian name for {Dolichos
sph[ae]rospermus} and its seed.
{Butterfly pea}, the American plant {Clitoria Mariana},
having showy blossoms.
{Chick pea}. See {Chick-pea}.
{Egyptian pea}. Same as {Chick-pea}.
{Everlasting pea}. See under {Everlasting}.
{Glory pea}. See under {Glory}, n.
{Hoary pea}, any plant of the genus {Tephrosia}; goat's rue.
{Issue pea}, {Orris pea}. (Med.) See under {Issue}, and
{Orris}.
{Milk pea}. (Bot.) See under {Milk}.
{Pea berry}, a kind of a coffee bean or grain which grows
single, and is round or pea-shaped; often used
adjectively; as, pea-berry coffee.
{Pea bug}. (Zool.) Same as {Pea weevil}.
{Pea coal}, a size of coal smaller than nut coal.
{Pea crab} (Zool.), any small crab of the genus
{Pinnotheres}, living as a commensal in bivalves; esp.,
the European species ({Pinnotheres pisum}) which lives in
the common mussel and the cockle.
{Pea dove} (Zool.), the American ground dove.
{Pea-flower tribe} (Bot.), a suborder ({Papilionace[ae]}) of
leguminous plants having blossoms essentially like that of
the pea. --G. Bentham.
{Pea maggot} (Zool.), the larva of a European moth ({Tortrix
pisi}), which is very destructive to peas.
{Pea ore} (Min.), argillaceous oxide of iron, occurring in
round grains of a size of a pea; pisolitic ore.
{Pea starch}, the starch or flour of the common pea, which is
sometimes used in adulterating wheat flour, pepper, etc.
{Pea tree} (Bot.), the name of several leguminous shrubs of
the genus {Caragana}, natives of Siberia and China.
{Pea vine}. (Bot.)
(a) Any plant which bears peas.
(b) A kind of vetch or tare, common in the United States
({Lathyrus Americana}, and other similar species).
{Pea weevil} (Zool.), a small weevil ({Bruchus pisi}) which
destroys peas by eating out the interior.
{Pigeon pea}. (Bot.) See {Pigeon pea}.
{Sweet pea} (Bot.), the annual plant {Lathyrus odoratus};
also, its many-colored, sweet-scented blossoms.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
butterfly pea
n 1: vine of tropical Asia having pinnate leaves and bright blue
flowers with yellow centers [syn: {blue pea}, {butterfly
pea}, {Clitoria turnatea}]
2: large-flowered wild twining vine of southeastern and central
United States having pale blue flowers [syn: {butterfly pea},
{Clitoria mariana}]
3: large-flowered weakly twining or prostrate vine of New Jersey
to tropical eastern North America, sometimes cultivated for
its purple and white flowers [syn: {butterfly pea},
{Centrosema virginianum}]
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