frijole

{ n.; pl. Frijoles /plu>. Also }. [ Sp. fríjol, fréjol. ] 1. In Mexico, the southwestern United States, and the West Indies, any cultivated bean of the genus Phaseolus, esp. the black seed of a variety of P. vulgaris. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. The beanlike seed of any of several related plants, as the cowpea. Frijoles are an important article of diet among Spanish-American peoples, being used as an ingredient of many dishes. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]