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alfalfa
(al fal′fə)
noun
a deep-rooted perennial plant (Medicago sativa) of the pea family, with small divided leaves, purple cloverlike flowers, and spiral pods, used extensively for fodder and pasture and as a cover crop
Origin: Sp < Ar al-fiṣfiṣa, fodder in its freshest state
See alfalfa in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
A southwest Asian perennial herb (Medicago sativa) having compound leaves with three leaflets and clusters of usually blue-violet flowers. It is widely cultivated as a pasture and hay crop.
Origin:
Origin: Spanish
Origin: , from Arabic al-faṣfaṣa
Origin: : al-, the
Origin: + faṣfaṣa, alfalfa (variant of fiṣfiṣa, from Persian aspist, clover)
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