Hypertext Webster Gateway: "vetch"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Vetch \Vetch\, n. [Also fitch; OE. ficche, feche, for veche, OF.
veche, vecce, vesche, vesce, F. vesce, fr. L. vicia.] (Bot.)
Any leguminous plant of the genus {Vicia}, some species of
which are valuable for fodder. The common species is {V.
sativa}.
Note: The name is also applied to many other leguminous
plants of different genera; as the chichling vetch, of
the genus {Lathyrus}; the horse vetch, of the genus
{Hippocrepis}; the kidney vetch ({Anthyllis
vulneraria}); the milk vetch, of the genus
{Astragalus}; the licorice vetch, or wild licorice
({Abrus precatorius}).
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
vetch
n : any of various climbing plants of the genus Vicia having
pinnately compound leaves that terminate in tendrils and
small variously colored flowers; includes valuable forage
and soil-building plants
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