lupin

Meaning

1. Any member of the genus Lupinus in the family Fabaceae.
2. A lupin bean, a yellow legume seed of a Lupinus plant (usually Lupinus luteus), used as feed for sheep and cattle and commonly eaten in the Mediterranean area and in Latin America although toxic if prepared improperly.

Synonyms

lupine

feral

ferocious

fierce

harsh

sassy

savage

truculent

violent

wild

black

Lupinus

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈluːpɪn/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: lupyne

In summary

From Middle English lupyne, lupine, from Old French lupin, from Latin lupīnus (“pertaining to the wolf”). The reason for association of the plant with the wolf is the wolf-like “fang” within the blossom. It has also been linked to an assumed depletion of nutrients in the soil.