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Pea
(Pea), n.; pl. Peas (#) or Pease [OE. pese, fr. AS. pisa, or OF. peis, F. pois; both fr. L. pisum; cf.
Gr. . 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.
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.
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.
The name pea is given to many leguminous plants more or less closely related to the common pea.
See the Phrases, below.
Beach pea (Bot.), a seashore plant, Lathyrus maritimus. — Black-eyed pea, a West Indian name
for Dolichos sphærospermus 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. (Zoöl.) Same as
Pea weevil. — Pea coal, a size of coal smaller than nut coal. — Pea crab (Zoöl.), any small crab
of the genus Pinnotheres, living as a commensal in bivalves; esp., the European species (P. pisum)
which lives in the common mussel and the cockle. — Pea dove (Zoöl.), the American ground dove.
— Pea-flower tribe (Bot.), a suborder (Papilionaceæ) of leguminous plants having blossoms essentially
like that of the pea. G. Bentham. — Pea maggot (Zoöl.), the larva of a European moth 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 — Pea weevil (Zoöl.), 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.
Peabird
(Pea"bird`) n. (Zoöl.) The wryneck; — so called from its note. [Prov. Eng.]
Peabody bird
(Pea"bod*y bird`) (Zoöl.) An American sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) having a conspicuous
white throat. The name is imitative of its note. Called also White- throated sparrow.
Peace
(Peace) n. [OE. pees, pais, OF. pais, paiz, pes, F. paix, L. pax, pacis, akin to pacere, paciscere,
pacisci, to make an agreement, and prob. also pangere to fasten. Cf. Appease, Fair, a., Fay, v.,
Fang, Pacify, Pact, Pay to requite.] A state of quiet or tranquillity; freedom from disturbance or agitation; calm; repose; specifically:
(a) Exemption from, or cessation of, war with public enemies. (b) Public quiet, order, and contentment
in obedience to law. (c) Exemption from, or subjection of, agitating passions; tranquillity of mind or conscience.
(d) Reconciliation; agreement after variance; harmony; concord. "The eternal love and pees." Chaucer.
Peace is sometimes used as an exclamation in commanding silence, quiet, or order. "Peace! foolish
woman." Shak.
At peace, in a state of peace. — Breach of the peace. See under Breach. — Justice of the peace.
See under Justice. — Peace of God. (Law) (a) A term used in wills, indictments, etc., as denoting a
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