buckwheat

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

buckwheat
    n 1: a member of the genus Fagopyrum; annual Asian plant with
         clusters of small pinkish white flowers and small edible
         triangular seeds which are used whole or ground into flour
         [syn: {buckwheat}, {Polygonum fagopyrum}, {Fagopyrum
         esculentum}]
    2: grain ground into flour

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Buckwheat \Buck"wheat`\, n. [Buck a beech tree + wheat; akin to
   D. boekweit, G. buchweizen.]
   1. (Bot.) A plant ({Fagopyrum esculentum}) of the Polygonum
      family, the seed of which is used for food.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The triangular seed used, when ground, for griddle cakes,
      etc.
      [1913 Webster]

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