Frijol \Fri"jol\, Frijole \Fri"jole\, n.; pl. Frijoles. Also Frejol \Fre"jol\ [Sp. fr['i]jol, fr['e]jol.]

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.

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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)