{ n.; pl. Frijoles /plu>. Also }. [ Sp. fríjol, fréjol. ] 1. In Mexico, the southwestern United States, and the West Indies, any cultivated bean of the genus Phaseolus, esp. the black seed of a variety of P. vulgaris. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. The beanlike seed of any of several related plants, as the cowpea. Frijoles are an important article of diet among Spanish-American peoples, being used as an ingredient of many dishes. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A shrub or small tree(Sophora secundiflora) having pinnate leaves poisonous to livestock and dense racemes of intensely fragrant blue flowers and red beans.
Syn. -- mescal bean, coral bean, Sophora secundiflora. [ WordNet 1.5 ]