Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Bean \Bean\ (b[=e]n), n. [OE. bene, AS. be['a]n; akin to D.
   boon, G. bohne, OHG. p[=o]na, Icel. baun, Dan. b["o]nne, Sw.
   b["o]na, and perh. to Russ. bob, L. faba.]
   1. (Bot.) A name given to the seed of certain leguminous
      herbs, chiefly of the genera {Faba}, {Phaseolus}, and
      {Dolichos}; also, to the herbs.

   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}.



   3. Mounted soldiery; cavalry; -- used without the plural
      termination; as, a regiment of horse; -- distinguished
      from foot.

            The armies were appointed, consisting of twenty-five
            thousand horse and foot.              --Bacon.

   4. A frame with legs, used to support something; as, a
      clotheshorse, a sawhorse, etc.

   5. A frame of timber, shaped like a horse, on which soldiers
      were made to ride for punishment.

   6. Anything, actual or figurative, on which one rides as on a
      horse; a hobby.

   7. (Mining) A mass of earthy matter, or rock of the same
      character as the wall rock, occurring in the course of a
      vein, as of coal or ore; hence, to take horse -- said of a
      vein -- is to divide into branches for a distance.

   8. (Naut.)
      (a) See {Footrope}, a.
      (b) A breastband for a leadsman.
      (c) An iron bar for a sheet traveler to slide upon.
      (d) A jackstay. --W. C. Russell. --Totten.

   Note: Horse is much used adjectively and in composition to
         signify of, or having to do with, a horse or horses,
         like a horse, etc.; as, horse collar, horse dealer or
         horse?dealer, horsehoe, horse jockey; and hence, often
         in the sense of strong, loud, coarse, etc.; as,
         horselaugh, horse nettle or horse-nettle, horseplay,
         horse ant, etc.

   {Black horse}, {Blood horse}, etc. See under {Black}, etc.

   {Horse aloes}, caballine aloes.

   {Horse ant} (Zo["o]l.), a large ant ({Formica rufa}); --
      called also {horse emmet}.

   {Horse artillery}, that portion of the artillery in which the
      cannoneers are mounted, and which usually serves with the
      cavalry; flying artillery.

   {Horse balm} (Bot.), a strong-scented labiate plant
      ({Collinsonia Canadensis}), having large leaves and
      yellowish flowers.

   {Horse bean} (Bot.), a variety of the English or Windsor bean
      ({Faba vulgaris}), grown for feeding horses.

   {Horse boat}, a boat for conveying horses and cattle, or a
      boat propelled by horses.

   {Horse bot}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Botfly}, and {Bots}.

   {Horse box}, a railroad car for transporting valuable horses,
      as hunters. [Eng.]

   {Horse} {breaker or trainer}, one employed in subduing or
      training horses for use.

   {Horse car}.
      (a) A railroad car drawn by horses. See under {Car}.
      (b) A car fitted for transporting horses.

   {Horse cassia} (Bot.), a leguminous plant ({Cassia
      Javanica}), bearing long pods, which contain a black,
      catharic pulp, much used in the East Indies as a horse
      medicine.

   {Horse cloth}, a cloth to cover a horse.

   {Horse conch} (Zo["o]l.), a large, spiral, marine shell of
      the genus Triton. See {Triton}.

   {Horse courser}.
      (a) One that runs horses, or keeps horses for racing.
          --Johnson.
      (b) A dealer in horses. [Obs.] --Wiseman.

   {Horse crab} (Zo["o]l.), the Limulus; -- called also
      {horsefoot}, {horsehoe crab}, and {king crab}.

   {Horse crevall['e]} (Zo["o]l.), the cavally.