jumping bean


noun

the seed of any of certain Mexican plants of the genera Sebastiania and Sapium, of the spurge family: the movements of a moth larva inside the seed cause it to move about or jump.
Also called Mexican jumping bean.

Origin of jumping bean

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

British Dictionary definitions for jumping bean

jumping bean

noun

a seed of any of several Mexican euphorbiaceous plants, esp species of Sebastiania, that contains a moth caterpillar whose movements cause it to jerk about