[buck.wheat] n [D boekweit, fr. MD boecweit, fr. boec- (akin to OHG buohha beech tree) + weit wheat--more at beech] (1548) 1: any of a genus (Fagopyrum of the family Polygonaceae, the buckwheat family) of herbs with alternate leaves, clusters of apetalous pinkish white flowers, and triangular seeds; esp: either of two plants (F. esculentum and F. tartaricum) cultivated for their edible seeds
2: the seed of a buckwheat used as a cereal grain