columbine1
/ˈkɒləmbʌɪn
/noun
An aquilegia which has long-spurred flowers that are typically purplish blue.
- Genus Aquilegia, family Ranunculaceae, especially A. vulgaris and its hybrids.
- Other wildflowers are common Solomon's seal, false Solomon's seal, two kinds of golden bellworts, hepatica, wild columbine, monkshood, bloodroot, toothwort, and wild ginger.
- The mound, from base to crown, was cloaked in flowers; in monkshood, columbine, goldenrod, blazingstar and others.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French colombine, from medieval Latin colombina (herba) 'dovelike (plant)', from Latin columba 'dove' (from the supposed resemblance of the flower to a cluster of five doves).
Columbine2
/ˈkɒləmbʌɪn/A character in Italian commedia dell’arte, the mistress of Harlequin.
Origin
From French Colombine, from Italian Colombina, feminine of colombino 'dovelike', from colombo 'dove'.