The Collaborative International Dictionary
trigonella Foenum Graecum
Fenugreek \Fen"u*greek\ (? or ?), n. [L. faenum Graecum, lit.,
Greek hay: cf. F. fenugrec. Cf. Fennel.] (Bot.)
A plant ( trigonella F[oe]num Gr[ae]cum) cultivated for its
strong-smelling seeds, which are ``now only used for giving
false importance to horse medicine and damaged hay.''
--J.
Smith (Pop. Names of Plants, 1881).