any of several plants of a genus (Centaurea) of the composite family, that have scaly, vase-shaped bracts below the white, pink, or blue flowers; esp., the cornflower and knapweed
bachelor's-button in American English
(ˈbætʃələrzˌbʌtn, ˈbætʃlərz-)
noun
any of various plants with round flower heads, esp. the cornflower
Word origin
[1570–80]This word is first recorded in the period 1570–80. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: balloon, repeater, skeleton, snag, split