Regular rhythmic beats, especially of the heart or arteries; also refers to edible seeds of leguminous plants like beans and lentils.
From Latin pulsus 'beating, striking,' from pellere 'to drive, beat.' The medical sense came first in the 14th century; the agricultural sense (legumes) developed because these plants were thought to 'beat' or throb as they grew.
The dual meaning of 'pulse'—heartbeat and legumes—isn't coincidental but reflects ancient observations that beans and lentils seemed to pulsate as they absorbed water and sprouted. This connection between the rhythm of life and the rhythm of growth shows how our ancestors saw patterns connecting the human body with the natural world.
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