\Pea\, n. [OF. peis. See {Poise}.]
The sliding weight on a steelyard. [Written also {pee}.]

\Pea\, n. (Naut.)
See {Peak}, n., 3.

\Pea\, n.; pl. {Peas}or {Pease}. [OE. pese, fr. AS. pisa, or
OF. peis, F. pois; both fr. L. pisum; cf. Gr. ?, ?. The final
s was misunderstood in English as a plural ending. Cf.
{Pease}.]
1. (Bot.) A plant, and its fruit, of the genus {Pisum}, of
   many varieties, much cultivated for food. It has a
   papilionaceous flower, and the pericarp is a legume,
   popularly called a pod.
Note: When a definite number, more than one, is spoken of,
      the plural form peas is used; as, the pod contained
      nine peas; but, in a collective sense, the form pease
      is preferred; as, a bushel of pease; they had pease at
      dinner. This distinction is not always preserved, the
      form peas being used in both senses.
2. A name given, especially in the Southern States, to the
   seed of several leguminous plants (species of {Dolichos},
   {Cicer}, {Abrus}, etc.) esp. those having a scar (hilum)
   of a different color from the rest of the seed.
Note: The name pea is given to many leguminous plants more or
      less closely related to the common pea. See the
      Phrases, below.
{Beach pea} (Bot.), a seashore plant, {Lathyrus maritimus}.
{Black-eyed pea}, a West Indian name for {Dolichos
   sph[ae]rospermus} and its seed.
{Butterfly pea}, the American plant {Clitoria Mariana},
   having showy blossoms.
{Chick pea}. See {Chick-pea}.
{Egyptian pea}. Same as {Chick-pea}.
{Everlasting pea}. See under {Everlasting}.
{Glory pea}. See under {Glory}, n.
{Hoary pea}, any plant of the genus {Tephrosia}; goat's rue.
{Issue pea}, {Orris pea}. (Med.) See under {Issue}, and
   {Orris}.
{Milk pea}. (Bot.) See under {Milk}.
{Pea berry}, a kind of a coffee bean or grain which grows
   single, and is round or pea-shaped; often used
   adjectively; as, pea-berry coffee.
{Pea bug}. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Pea weevil}.
{Pea coal}, a size of coal smaller than nut coal.
{Pea crab} (Zo["o]l.), any small crab of the genus
   {Pinnotheres}, living as a commensal in bivalves; esp.,
   the European species ({P. pisum}) which lives in the
   common mussel and the cockle.
{Pea dove} (Zo["o]l.), the American ground dove.
{Pea-flower tribe} (Bot.), a suborder ({Papilionace[ae]}) of
   leguminous plants having blossoms essentially like that of
   the pea. --G. Bentham.
{Pea maggot} (Zo["o]l.), the larva of a European moth
   ({Tortrix pisi}), which is very destructive to peas.
{Pea ore} (Min.), argillaceous oxide of iron, occurring in
   round grains of a size of a pea; pisolitic ore.
{Pea starch}, the starch or flour of the common pea, which is
   sometimes used in adulterating wheat flour, pepper, etc.
{Pea tree} (Bot.), the name of several leguminous shrubs of
   the genus {Caragana}, natives of Siberia and China.
{Pea vine}. (Bot.)
   (a) Any plant which bears peas.
   (b) A kind of vetch or tare, common in the United States
       ({Lathyrus Americana}, and other similar species).
{Pea weevil} (Zo["o]l.), a small weevil ({Bruchus pisi})
   which destroys peas by eating out the interior.
{Pigeon pea}. (Bot.) See {Pigeon pea}.
{Sweet pea} (Bot.), the annual plant {Lathyrus odoratus};
   also, its many-colored, sweet-scented blossoms.