Columbine

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkÉ’lÉ™mbʌɪn/

From the Latin colombina herba ("dove-like plant"), the flower being likened to five clustered pigeons.

Full definition of columbine

Noun

1. Any plant of the genus Aquilegia, having distinctive bell-shaped flowers with spurs on each petal.

From Old French columbin (French colombin), from Latin columbinus, from dove, pigeon.

Adjective

1. (archaic) Pertaining to a dove or pigeon.
• late 1500s, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Merchant's Tale:Com forþ now, wiþ þyne eyen columbyn!
  How fairer been þy brestes þan is wyn!
• Francis BaconColumbine innocency.