What is "locust bean"

Locust \Lo"cust\, n. [L. locusta locust, grasshopper. Cf. Lobster.]

1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of long-winged, migratory, orthopterous insects, of the family Acridid[ae], allied to the grasshoppers; esp., ( Edipoda migratoria, syn. Pachytylus migratoria, and Acridium perigrinum, of Southern Europe, Asia, and Africa. In the United States the related species with similar habits are usually called grasshoppers. See Grasshopper.

   Note: These insects are at times so numerous in Africa and the south of Asia as to devour every green thing; and when they migrate, they fly in an immense cloud. In the United States the harvest flies are improperly called locusts. See Cicada.

   Locust beetle (Zo["o]l.), a longicorn beetle ( Cyllene robini[ae]), which, in the larval state, bores holes in the wood of the locust tree. Its color is brownish black, barred with yellow. Called also locust borer.

   Locust bird (Zo["o]l.) the rose-colored starling or pastor of India. See Pastor.

   Locust hunter (Zo["o]l.), an African bird; the beefeater.

2. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Bot.) The locust tree. See Locust Tree (definition, note, and phrases).

   Locust bean (Bot.), a commercial name for the sweet pod of the carob tree.

n. A seed of the carob tree.

n. long pod containing small beans and sweetish edible pulp; used as animal feed and source of a chocolate substitute [syn: carob, carob bean, algarroba bean, algarroba, locust pod]