Vĕtch, n.

n. [Fr. vesce, Sp. veza, It. veccia, Lat. vicia, Gr. βικίον, O. H. Ger. wicce, N. H. Ger. wicke, D. & Lith. wikke, Dan. vikle, Sw. vicker, pl. Cf. FETCH.] (Bot.) A leguminous plant of the genus Vicia, some species of which are valuable for fodder, the common species being V. sativa.

The name is also applied to many other leguminous plants of different genera; as the chichling-vetch, of the genus Lathyrus; the horseshoe vetch, of the genus Hippocrepis; the milk vetch, of the genus Astragalus.