sea bean n
1 Any of various usu large and attractively colored seeds of tropical plants that are found washed up on ocean beaches. [OED2 sea-bean n. 2 “A name given to the seeds of the tropical leguminous plant Entada scandens, carried by sea to the British coasts, and often made into trinkets”; 1696→] Cf cowitch n 1, velvet bean n
1842 Eve. Post (NY NY) 24 May [2]/5, Deceased was dressed in a sailor’s dress, belt around his body and had in his pocket a chest key attached to a sea-bean. 1874 Meriden Daily Republican (CT) 14 Sept [2]/2, Mr. Dodd, of East Bristol, has received an order from a Florida gentleman to polish five thousand sea-beans. These beans grow in pods on vines, in the Indies, and are thrown by the ocean currents upon the Florida coasts. 1877 Chicago Tribune (IL) 9 June 9/7 FL, Along the shores washed by the Gulf Stream there are many curious mementoes of the tropical flora brought over from the West Indies. What are called Sea-Beans are the most common. The smaller black and brown ones, used here as charms, are the Mucuna urens. . . The large reddish ones are called by Wilson Fuillea [sic for Fevillea] cordifolia. . . Then there are large round ones,—Entada gigalobium; but the prettiest are the kind called “Nickers.” These are also very hard,—of gray and yellow colors. Their botanical name is Guilandina bonduc. All of the foregoing grow on vines, in the locality mentioned. So far as known, none have become naturalized in Florida. 1886 Oölogist 3.5 advt sec 6/1, [Advt:] Sea Bean Watch Charm. Engraved with Masonic or Odd Fellows’ emblem, 30c. . . Red, Gray, or Yellow Sea Bean Charm. Set with ¼ inch compass, 50c. 1900 Lyons Plant Names 254, M[ucuna] pruriens. . . Seeds are called Sea-beans. 1932 Lewiston Daily Sun (Lewiston–Auburn ME) 30 July 5/3, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Fletcher have on exhibition, at their store, a collection of shells, coral, sea-beans, horse-shoe crabs, etc., that they collected while in Florida the past winter. 1948 Headlight (Stromsburg NE) 9 Dec [8]/3, [Advt:] Lost: In the Masonic Hall on Tuesday evening, a family heirloom, a red seabean stick pin. 1951 Miami Herald (FL) 30 Dec sec G 4/3, The mysterious sea-bean, believed by many to originate in the sea, is really a product of the land, a close relative of the common velvet bean. Sea-beans are commonly found along beaches throughout much of the world. At times they float up along Florida beaches in great numbers. 2015 Monitor (McAllen TX) 18 July sec B 5/6, [Photo caption:] Beachcombers display items they have found on the Bolivar Peninsula, including arrowheads, sea glass, sea beans, sharks teeth and children’s toys.
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