Gram

gram an Indian term which refers to pulses which are whole rather than split; the latter are called dal.

The word is of Portuguese origin, from grão (grain, from the Latin granum), but is not, as one might expect, applied to cereal grains.

The term gram by itself, without an epithet, is taken to mean chickpea (channa). Similarly, ‘gram flour’ means besan flour, which is made from chickpeas. Other kinds of gram are listed below, with references to the articles in which they are described.

• Bengal gram is a name used in the south of India for chickpea.

• Black gram, see urd.

• Green (or golden) gram, see mung bean.

• Horse and Madras gram, see horse gram.

• Red gram, see pigeon pea.

• Turkish gram, see moth bean.

• White gram, see soya bean.