Definition

Noun: 1. The pod of the peanut plant: A "goober pea" is the shell or pod that contains the edible seeds (peanuts). It is a regional and informal term, primarily used in the Southern United States. 2. The peanut seed itself: Informally, the term can also refer to the edible peanut seed found inside the pod.

Usage and Examples

• Referring to the pod:
  • He cracked open the goober pea to get to the nuts inside.
  • After the harvest, the field was full of dried goober peas.
• Referring to the peanut seed:
  • We roasted a batch of goober peas over the fire.
  • She offered me a handful of salted goober peas.

Advanced Usage

• The term "goober pea" carries a folksy, historical, or regional connotation. It is often associated with Southern U.S. culture, historical contexts (like the American Civil War), and informal speech.
• It is famously used in the American folk song "Goober Peas," which humorously describes the diet of Confederate soldiers.

Variants and Related Words

• Goober (n): A common synonym for a peanut, especially in the Southern U.S.
  • He bought a bag of goobers at the ballgame.
• Peanut (n): The standard term for the seed or the plant ().
• Groundnut (n): A British English term for a peanut.
• Monkey nut (n): Another British English term for a peanut, especially one in its shell.

Synonyms

• Peanut
• Groundnut (British)
• Monkey nut (British)
• Earthnut (less common)

Notes on Meaning

• The primary meaning is the pod containing the peanuts. This is the specific, literal definition.
• Through common usage, the term is also widely understood to mean the edible peanut seed itself, especially in informal contexts. This is an example of metonymy, where the name of a container (the pea/pod) is used for the thing contained (the nut).

Noun

1. pod of the peanut vine containing usually 2 nuts or seeds; `groundnut' and `monkey nut' are British terms