carnation1
/kɑːˈneɪʃ(ə)n
/noun
A double-flowered cultivated variety of clove pink, with grey-green leaves and showy pink, white, or red flowers.
- Dianthus caryophyllus, family Caryophyllaceae: many cultivars.
- She also enjoyed flowers adorning the Keegan home with a variety of flowers, with white carnations being her favourite.
- This arrangement takes red roses and carnations and surrounds them with blue larkspur and white mini carnations and snapdragons.
Origin
Late 16th century: perhaps based on a misreading of Arabic qaranful 'clove or clove pink', from Greek karyophyllon. The early forms suggest confusion with carnation2, with incarnation, and with coronation.
carnation2
/kɑːˈneɪʃ(ə)n/noun
A rosy pink colour: [as modifier]: sage and carnation throw pillows...
- The skirt was ‘a loose undergarment, full gathered, of carnation, striped with silver and parted with a golden zone’.
Origin
Early 16th century: from French carnation 'colour of one's flesh', based on Latin carn- 'flesh'.