Note: The origin and classification of many kinds are still
doubtful. Among true beans are: the black-eyed bean and
China bean, included in {Dolichos Sinensis}; black
Egyptian bean or hyacinth bean, {D. Lablab}; the common
haricot beans, kidney beans, string beans, and pole
beans, all included in {Phaseolus vulgaris}; the lower
bush bean, {Ph. vulgaris}, variety {nanus}; Lima bean,
{Ph. lunatus}; Spanish bean and scarlet runner, {Ph.
maltiflorus}; Windsor bean, the common bean of England,
{Faba vulgaris}. As an article of food beans are
classed with vegetables.
2. The popular name of other vegetable seeds or fruits, more
or less resembling true beans.
{Bean aphis} (Zo["o]l.), a plant louse ({Aphis fab[ae]})
which infests the bean plant.
{Bean fly} (Zo["o]l.), a fly found on bean flowers.
{Bean goose} (Zo["o]l.), a species of goose ({Anser
segetum}).
{Bean weevil} (Zo["o]l.), a small weevil that in the larval
state destroys beans. The American species in {Bruchus
fab[ae]}.
{Florida bean} (Bot.), the seed of {Mucuna urens}, a West
Indian plant. The seeds are washed up on the Florida
shore, and are often polished and made into ornaments.
{Ignatius bean}, or {St. Ignatius's bean} (Bot.), a species
of {Strychnos}.
{Navy bean}, the common dried white bean of commerce;
probably so called because an important article of food in
the navy.
{Pea bean}, a very small and highly esteemed variety of the
edible white bean; -- so called from its size.
{Sacred bean}. See under {Sacred}.
{Screw bean}. See under {Screw}.
{Sea bean}.
(a) Same as {Florida bean}.
(b) A red bean of unknown species used for ornament.
{Tonquin bean}, or {Tonka bean}, the fragrant seed of
{Dipteryx odorata}, a leguminous tree.
{Vanilla bean}. See under {Vanilla}.
Note: This was the original sense of the word, as in the
Dutch bosch, a wood, and was so used by Chaucer. In
this sense it is extensively used in the British
colonies, especially at the Cape of Good Hope, and also
in Australia and Canada; as, to live or settle in the
bush.
2. A shrub; esp., a shrub with branches rising from or near
the root; a thick shrub or a cluster of shrubs.
To bind a bush of thorns among sweet-smelling
flowers. --Gascoigne.
3. A shrub cut off, or a shrublike branch of a tree; as,
bushes to support pea vines.
4. A shrub or branch, properly, a branch of ivy (as sacred to
Bacchus), hung out at vintners' doors, or as a tavern
sign; hence, a tavern sign, and symbolically, the tavern
itself.
If it be true that good wine needs no bush, 't is
true that a good play needs no epilogue. --Shak.
5. (Hunting) The tail, or brush, of a fox.
{To beat about the bush}, to approach anything in a
round-about manner, instead of coming directly to it; -- a
metaphor taken from hunting.
{Bush bean} (Bot.), a variety of bean which is low and
requires no support ({Phaseolus vulgaris}, variety
{nanus}). See {Bean}, 1.
{Bush buck}, or {Bush goat} (Zo["o]l.), a beautiful South
African antelope ({Tragelaphus sylvaticus}); -- so called
because found mainly in wooden localities. The name is
also applied to other species.
{Bush cat} (Zo["o]l.), the serval. See {Serval}.
{Bush chat} (Zo["o]l.), a bird of the genus {Pratincola}, of
the Thrush family.
{Bush dog}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Potto}.
{Bush hammer}. See {Bushhammer} in the Vocabulary.
{Bush harrow} (Agric.) See under {Harrow}.
{Bush hog} (Zo["o]l.), a South African wild hog
({Potamoch[oe]rus Africanus}); -- called also {bush pig},
and {water hog}.
{Bush master} (Zo["o]l.), a venomous snake ({Lachesis mutus})
of Guinea; -- called also {surucucu}.
{Bush pea} (Bot.), a variety of pea that needs to be bushed.
{Bush shrike} (Zo["o]l.), a bird of the genus {Thamnophilus},
and allied genera; -- called also {batarg}. Many species
inhabit tropical America.
{Bush tit} (Zo["o]l.), a small bird of the genus
{Psaltriparus}, allied to the titmouse. {P. minimus}
inhabits California.