columbine

Meanings

Noun

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

Adjective

• Pertaining to a dove or pigeon.

Origin

• From the Latin colombina herba, the flower being likened to five clustered pigeons.
• From Middle English columbyne, from Old French columbin (French colombin), from Latin columbinus, from columba.