Lathyrus macrorhizus
(gcide) | Heath \Heath\ (h[=e]th), n. [OE. heth waste land, the plant
heath, AS. h[=ae][eth]; akin to D. & G. heide, Icel.
hei[eth]r waste land, Dan. hede, Sw. hed, Goth. hai[thorn]i
field, L. bucetum a cow pasture; cf. W. coed a wood, Skr.
ksh[=e]tra field. [root]20.]
1. (Bot.)
(a) A low shrub (Erica vulgaris or Calluna vulgaris),
with minute evergreen leaves, and handsome clusters of
pink flowers. It is used in Great Britain for brooms,
thatch, beds for the poor, and for heating ovens. It
is also called heather, and ling.
(b) Also, any species of the genus Erica, of which
several are European, and many more are South African,
some of great beauty. See Illust. of Heather.
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2. A place overgrown with heath; any cheerless tract of
country overgrown with shrubs or coarse herbage.
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Their stately growth, though bare,
Stands on the blasted heath. --Milton
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Heath cock (Zool.), the blackcock. See Heath grouse
(below).
Heath grass (Bot.), a kind of perennial grass, of the genus
Triodia (Triodia decumbens), growing on dry heaths.
Heath grouse, or Heath game (Zool.), a European grouse
(Tetrao tetrix), which inhabits heaths; -- called also
black game, black grouse, heath poult, heath fowl,
moor fowl. The male is called heath cock, and
blackcock; the female, heath hen, and gray hen.
Heath hen. (Zool.) See Heath grouse (above).
Heath pea (Bot.), a species of bitter vetch ({Lathyrus
macrorhizus}), the tubers of which are eaten, and in
Scotland are used to flavor whisky.
Heath throstle (Zool.), a European thrush which frequents
heaths; the ring ouzel.
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