Pigeon Pea
/ˈpɪdʒ.ən piː/noun
A tropical legume, Cajanus cajan, cultivated for its edible seeds.
Did you know?The name is generally explained as referring to the peas’ use as pigeon feed, although historical sources do not establish one completely certain naming pathway.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pis-
“A reconstructed root associated with the pea or pulse family; the exact reconstruction and relationship remain debated.”
Classical Latin
Latin
pisum
“Pea.”
Old English
Old English
pise
“Pea; a form borrowed through Germanic and ultimately related to Latin pisum.”
13th–15th Century
Middle English
pease
“Pea; the ending was later reinterpreted as plural, producing the modern singular pea.”
17th Century
English
pigeon pea
“A name for the tropical legume, probably connected with its use as food for pigeons or other birds.”
Modern English
English
pigeon pea
“The common name for Cajanus cajan, also called the Congo pea or gandule in some regions.”