Vetch

Forms: α. 4–5 fecch(e, 5 fechche, fehche, fech, 5–6 feche, 4–7 fetche, 4–8, 9 dial. fetch. β. 5 vache, 5, 9 s.w. dial., vatch; 5–7 veche (5 vessche), vech (5 wech), 4–6 vetche, 6– vetch (9 veitch). See also FATCH and FITCH sb.¹ [a. ONF. veche, vecche, veiche, vesche, OF. vecce, vece, vesse (mod.F. vesce):—L. vicia, whence also It. veccia.]

  1.  The bean-like fruit of various species of the leguminous plant Vicia.

  Also with defining terms, as gore-vetch: see 3 b.

  Occas. used as a type of something of little or no value (see quots. c. 1374, 1632).

  α.  c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, III. 936 (Harl. MS.). This seid is by hem that be not worth two fecchis.

c. 1400.  Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 209. Oon [cancer] comeþ of malancolie rotid, & bigynneþ for to wexe in þe mychilnes of a fecche or of a pese.

a. 1513.  Fabyan, Chron., VII. 612. For this scarcyte of whete in Englande, in many places the people made them brede of fetches, pesyn, and benys.

1533.  in Archaeologia, XXV. 519. Fetchys bought for sede … ij combe of fetchys.

1552.  Cooper, Elyot’s Dict., Eruum … is greater and bitterour then a fech.

1615.  Latham, Falconry (1633), 95. Take of alloes the quantity of a Fetch unwashed.

1632.  Rowley, Woman never vext, II. 26. You may Imagine it to be Twelfe-day at night, and the Beane found in the corner of your Cake, but ’Tis not worth a fetch I’l assure you.

1661.  Petit. for Peace, 11. The Fetches are beaten out with a staff.

  β.  1388.  Wyclif, Ezek. iv. 9. Take thou … beenys, and tillis, and mylie, and vetchis [1382 vetche].

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. xcv. (Bodl. MS.). Amonge codware,… tilles & vacches beþ smalleste in quantite.

c. 1483.  Caxton, Dial., 22. Otes, vessches, Benes, pesen.

1539.  Elyot, Cast. Helthe, 84 b. Some is lyke lyttelle redde vetches.

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, 482. Afterward there come vp long flat coddes, wherein are Vetches.

1617.  Moryson, Itin., III. 112. English Merchants bring into Italy … Conny skins, Veches, Kersies, and sometimes English Corne.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 59, ¶ 14. Cicero … was marked on the Nose with a little Wen like a Vetch.

1756.  J. Kennedy, Curios. Wilton House (1786), 65. The Busts of Cicero,… with the Mark of the Cicer or Vetch on his Face.

1790.  Cowper, Iliad, XIII. 715. As vetches or as swarthy beans Leap from the van and fly athwart the floor, By sharp winds driven.

1866.  C. C. Felton, Anc. & Mod. Gr., I. vi. 406. Beans, lupines, radishes, Vetches, wild pears, when we can, And a locust now and then.

1870.  Bryant, Iliad, XII. II. 32. The swarthy beans Or vetches bound before the whistling wind.

1901.  Daily News, 12 March, 8/6. Some large Swedish gore-vetches are now offering at attractively low rates.

  † b.  = FITCH sb.¹ 2 (q.v.). Obs.

  2.  pl. Plants belonging to the genus Vicia, esp. to the species Vicia sativa, the common tare.

  Frequently with special reference to the produce.

  α.  a. 1387.  Sinon. Barthol. (Anecd. Oxon.), 43. Vesces, i. fecches vel mous pese.

1388.  Wyclif, Isaiah xxviii. 25. He schal not sette wheete bi ordre, and barli … and fetchis in his coostis.

c. 1440.  Pallad. on Husb., I. 237. Lupyne and fetches sleyn, and on thaire roote Up dried, are as dounging landes boote.

1610.  Shaks., Temp., IV. i. 61. Rich Leas Of Wheate, Rye, Barley, Fetches, Oates and Pease.

c. 1640.  J. Smyth, Lives Berkeleys (1883), I. 303. From hence also came their great proportions of wheat, rye, barly,… and fetches, apples and pears.

a. 1661.  Fuller, Worthies, Leicester, II. (1662), 126. Whereas lean land will serve for puling peas and faint fetches.

1879.  Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., 145.

  β.  1552.  Huloet, Tares or vetches, a kinde of pulse or grayne, eruila, eruum, orobum.

1575.  in Phillipps, Wills (c. 1830), 457. Corne in the felde … Item, 9 acres of peaze…. Item, 12 acres vetches.

1576.  Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 352. With Wheate,… with Vetchesse, with Millette, & all other kinde of pulse.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, I. 572. Vetches also doe manure and fat the ground where they be sowed.

1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, II. 97/2. Vetches, Lentils, Tares, have leaves like Pease.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 110. Where Vetches, Pulse, and Tares have stood, And Stalks of Lupines grew.

1765.  Museum Rust., IV. 386. Beans, Peas, and Tares or Vetches.

1792.  A. Young, Trav. France, 7. A piece of wheat; a scrap of lucerne; a patch of clover or vetches.

1846.  J. Baxter, Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4), I. 28. The vetches attained by the 4th of July a height of ten inches.

1882.  ‘Ouida,’ Maremma, I. 188. Amidst the maiden-hair and the vetches about the orifice of the warrior’s tomb.

  3.  In generic use as a plant-name (or, in early use, as that of a grain), usually without article or with the; also occas., with a and pl., one or other species of the genus Vicia.

1382.  Wyclif, Ezek. iv. 9. Take thou … bene, and lent, and mylie, and vetche.

14[?].  Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 619. Vicia, a wech. Ibid., 625. Uicia, vache.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 153/1. Fetche, corne, or tare,… vicia.

c. 1532.  Du Wes, Introd. Fr., in Palsgr., 915. Fetche, uesche.

1552.  Huloet, Vetche, fetche, or tare, passilus.

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, 482. The Vetche hath stalkes of a sufficient thicknesse.

1649.  J. Ogilby, Virg. Georg., I. 241. Wouldst thou the Ground should Vetch and Fasels bear.

1707.  Mortimer, Husb. (1721), I. 139. The Chich, Fetch or Vetch are of several sorts, but the most known are the Winter and the Summer Vetch.

1750.  Shenstone, Rural Elegance, 204. The tangled vetch’s purple bloom.

1797.  Washington, Writ. (1892), XIII. 407. The Vetch of Europe has not succeeded with me.

1821.  Clare, Vill. Minstr., II. 144. Heath’s creeping vetch, and glaring yellow brooms.

1866.  Treas. Bot., 662/2. The true Lathyri … are herbs, with fewer and larger leaflets than in the vetches.

1867.  Baker, Nile Tribut., viii. (1872), 125. A peculiar species, that resembles a vetch, bears a circular pod as large as a horse-bean.

1890.  D. Davidson, Mem. Long Life, viii. 211. In a field of toor (a kind of vetch), we saw a fine buck antelope lying pretty well concealed.

  b.  With distinguishing names, denoting various species of Vicia.

a. 1722.  Lisle, Observ. Husb. (1757), 125. The pebble-vetch is a summer-vetch, different from the goar-vetch and not so big; they call it also the rath-ripe vetch.

1725.  Fam. Dict., s.v., The most known [sorts] are the Winter and Summer Vetch.

1731.  Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Vicia, Common Vetch or Tare…. White Vetch…. Many-flower’d Vetch.

1753.  Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl., s.v. Vicia, The species of Vetch, enumerated by Mr. Tournefort are these: 1. The common cultivated Vetch…. 4. The great wild bush Vetch…. 12. The white-flowered hairy wild Vetch [etc.].

1777.  Jacob, Catal. Plants, 122. Vicia sativa, Common Vetch…. Vicia sepium, Bush Vetch. Vicia lathyroides,… Wild Vetch.

1777.  Lightfoot, Flora Scot. (1789), I. 304. Vicia cracca. Tufted Vetch.

1796.  Withering, Brit. Pl. (ed. 3), III. 638. Vicia lathyroides. Strangle Vetch. Ibid., 639. V. lutea. Yellow Vetch…. V. hybrida. Bastard Vetch…. V. bithynica. Rough Vetch.

1805.  [see TUFTED a. 3].

1813.  [see TARE sb.¹ 4].

1829.  Loudon, Encycl. Pl. (1836), 622. [Many species].

1843.  Penny Cycl., XXVI. 296. [Biennial, Pea-like, Bush, Rough-podded Yellow and Purple Vetch, etc.].

1846–50.  A. Wood, Class-bk. Bot., 220. Vicia Americana. American Vetch…. V. Caroliniana. Carolinian Vetch…. V. tetrasperma. Slender Vetch.

1850.  Miss Pratt, Comm. Things Sea-side, 78. The rough podded Yellow Vetch (Vicia lutea). Ibid., 79. The smooth-podded Vetch (Vicia lævigata)…. The rare rough-podded purple Vetch (Vicia Bithynica).

  4.  Applied, with distinguishing terms, to plants of various genera more or less resembling vetches.

  See also milk-vetch MILK sb. 10 b. wood-vetch.

[1562–1727.  (see AX-FITCH).]

1753.  Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl. App., *Ax-vetch, in botany, the English name of a genus of plants, called by authors securidaca.

1760.  J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 330. Ax Vetch: see Hatchet Vetch.

1829.  Loudon, Encycl. Pl. (1836), 636. Phaca. *Bastard Vetch.

1753.  Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl. s.v. Aphaca, There is only one known species of Aphaca, which is the yellow vetchling, called by some the *bind-weed-leaved vetch.

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, 482. Of the *bitter Veche called in Greeke Orobus, and in latine Eruum.

1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, 1051. Cich, or true Orobus…: in English it is called bitter Vetch.

1661.  Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 44. Betony,… bitter vetch with Wine.

1728.  Bradley, Dict. Bot., Ervum of Columella … is the Orobus or Bitter Vetch.

1760.  J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 330. Jointed Podded Bitter Vetch, Ervum.

1866.  Treas. Bot., 1212/2. *Bladder Vetch, Phaca.

1731.  Miller, Gard. Dict., Lathyrus, *Chichling Vetch.

1756–1861.  [see CHICKLING² b].

1887.  Amer. Naturalist, XXI. 710. Chickling Vetch. Lathyrus sativus L.

1846–50.  A. Wood, Class-bk. Bot., 221. Ervum hirsutum. Hairy or *Creeping Vetch.

1671.  Phillips, s.v., The crimson *grasse Vetch [is called] Cantananee.

1731.  Miller, Gard. Dict., Nissolia, Crimson Grass-Vetch.

1760.  J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 331. Crimson Grass Vetch, Lathyrus.

1822.  Hortus Anglicus, II. 243. Lathyrus Nissolia. Crimson Lathyrus, or Grass Vetch.

1846–50.  *Hairy Vetch [see Creeping vetch].

1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, 1055. The first kinde of *hatchet Fetch, hath many small branches trailing … vpon the ground.

1706.  Phillips (ed. Kersey), Pelecinus or Pelecinun..., Hatchet-vetch, a Weed that grows amidst Corn.

1728.  Bradley, Dict. Bot., Hedysarum,… in English, Hatchet Vetch, or Sickle-wort.

1760.  J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 331. Hatchet Vetch, Coronilla. Ibid. Clusius’s foreign Hatchet Vetch, Biserrula.

1829.  Loudon, Encycl. Pl. (1836), 628. Coronilla Securidaca, Hatchet-Vetch. Ibid., 638. Biserrula Pelecinus. Bastard Hatchet Vetch.

1640.  Parkinson, Theat. Bot., 1091. The greater *Horse shooe Vetch. Ibid. Many codded Horse shooe Vetch.

1671.  Skinner, Etymol. Ling. Angl., L lll. Horshoe Vetch, Ferrum Equinum.

1760.  J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 331. Horse-shoe Vetch, Hippocrepis.

1640.  Parkinson, Theat. Bot., 417. Galega.… Some with us call it *Italian Vetch, but most commonly Goates Rue.

1728.  Bradley, Dict. Bot., s.v., Italian Vetch, or Goats-Rue, in Latin, Galega.

1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, 1060. *Kidney Vetch hath a stalke of the height of a cubite. Ibid. The Starrie Kidney Vetch, called Stella leguminosa.

1640.  Parkinson, Theat. Bot., 1094. Bladder Pease or Kidney Vetch of Spaine. Ibid. Crooked Kidney Vetch of Candy.

1753.  Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl., s.v. Vulneraria, The common yellow-flowered Vulneraria, called kidney-verch, and ladies finger.

1760.  J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 331. Kidney Vetch, Anthyllis.

1865.  Gosse, Land & Sea (1874), 7. The kidney vetch or lady’s finger.

1640.  Parkinson, Theat. Bot., 1098. The most common *Licoris Vetch.

1731.  Miller, Gard. Dict., Apios, the knobbed rooted Virginian Liquorice-Vetch. Ibid., Astragalus, Wild Liquorice, or Liquorice Vetch.

1753.  Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl. App. s.v., Liquorice-Vetch, the English name of a genus of plants, known among botanists by that of glycine.

1882.  [see LIQUORICE 4].

1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, 1064. Onobrychis montana … Mountain *Medick Fetch.

1753.  Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl. App. s.v., Medic-Vetch, the name by which many call the onobrychis.

1760.  J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 331. Medic Vetch, Hedysarum.

1731.  Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Orobus, Broad-leav’d Creeping Orobus, with a small Pod, commonly call’d, *Venetian Vetch.

1741.  Compl. Fam.-Piece, II. iii. 367. Persian Lilly, Lichnis, Venetian Vetch.

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, 485. The *wilde Vetche [Galega altera] … serueth onely but for pasture, and feeding for cattell.

1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, 1053. Of the yellow wilde Fetch, or Tare euerlasting.

1640.  Parkinson, Theat. Bot., 1067. Aphaca. The yellow wilde Vetch.

1725.  Fam. Dict., s.v., The Seed of the Wild Vetch is bitter.

  5.  attrib. and Comb., as vetch flower, -grass, -leaf, seed; vetch-leaved, -like adjs.

1725.  Fam. Dict., s.v., Vetch Flower mixt with Honey … will take away Freckles.

1731.  Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Orobus, Wood Orobus, with Vetch-Leaves.

1753.  Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl. s.v. Onobrychis, The great, vetch-leaved onobrychis. Ibid., The stone onobrychis, with long, and narrow, vetch-like leaves. Ibid., App. s.v. Grass, Vetch-grass, the English name of a distinct genus of plants called by authors nissolia.

1831.  J. F. South, trans. Otto’s Path. Anat., 455. One [nervous knot] as large as a date seed … and a third of the size of a vetch seed.

1845–50.  Mrs. Lincoln, Lect. Bot., 184. Vicia sativa. Common vetch-tare.

1852.  Mundy, Antipodes (1857), 14. The Kennedya, with a purple vetch-like blossom.