Definition of the word fava bean

The word "fava" in "fava bean" can be traced back to the Latin word "faba," meaning bean. The fava bean, also known as broad bean or horse bean, has been cultivated for more than 8,000 years in the Middle East and the Mediterranean region. The ancient Greeks and Romans ate fava beans and even used them in religious ceremonies. The word "broad" in the term "broad bean" refers to theshape of the bean, which is large and flat, in contrast to smaller, rounder varieties like the garden peas. In Greek, fava beans are known as "γιαγιά," which translates to "grandmothers," as they were traditionally grown in the gardens of older women, who would then share them with their families and communities. The English term "fava" likely came from the Anglo-Saxon word "fæfe," meaning bean. The term "broad bean" was used to differentiate it from smaller and rounder varieties, such as garden peas, as the phrase "fava bean" was already in use for a different legume, the wind-pollinated tropical half of the Lab Lab bean. Overall, the origin of the term "fava bean" is a fusion of Latin, Greek, and Anglo-Saxon languages, whose meaning and usage have been carried through the centuries and continue to be recognized by people around the world today.