hyacinth

Meaning

Noun

• Any bulbous plant of the genus Hyacinthus, native to the Mediterranean and South Africa.
• A variety of zircon, ranging in color from brown, orange, reddish-brown and yellow; a jacinth.

Origin

• From Middle English jacinth, partly from Old French jacincte, from Medieval Latin jacintus, and partly from Old English iacinþ, from Medieval Latin jacinthus, both from Latin hyacinthus, from Ancient Greek ὑάκινθος ("any of several dark blue flowers"), ultimately from a non-Indo-European Mediterranean language. Re-Latinized in the 16th century.