Len"til (lĕn"tĭl), n. [F.
lentille, fr. L. lenticula, dim. of lens,
lentis, lentil. Cf. Lens.] (Bot.) A
leguminous plant of the genus Ervum (Ervum Lens), of
small size, common in the fields in Europe. Also, its seed, which is
used for food on the continent.
☞ The lentil of the Scriptures probably included
several other vetchlike plants.
Lentil shell (Zoöl.), a small
bivalve shell of the genus Ervillia, family
Tellinidæ.