snap bean


noun

a crisp bean pod, as a green bean or a wax bean, that is easily broken into pieces for cooking.

Origin of snap bean

An Americanism dating back to 1760–70

British Dictionary definitions for snap bean

snap bean

noun US and Canadian

any of various bean plants that are cultivated in the US for their crisp edible unripe pods
the pod of such a plant
See also string bean

Word Origin for snap bean

C19: so called because the pods are broken into pieces for eating