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jumping bean

noun

  1. 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.

jumping bean

noun

  1. 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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of jumping bean1

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

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jump injumping bristletail

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