Fava
/ˈfɑː.və/noun
A broad bean, especially the edible seed of the fava plant.
Did you know?Pythagoras reportedly forbade his followers from eating fava beans, possibly because they were associated with souls, the dead, or bloodlike stems when cut.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Antiquity
Latin
faba
“Bean, especially the broad bean”
Late Antiquity
Late Latin
faba
“Bean; the classical Latin form continued in popular speech”
Medieval Period
Old French
feve
“Bean or broad bean”
Medieval Period
Italian
fava
“Broad bean; descendant of Latin faba”
19th Century
English
fava
“A broad bean, adopted from Italian culinary usage”
Modern English
English
fava
“The broad bean or its edible seed”