hyacinth
- among the ancients, a blue gem, probably the sapphire
- any of the reddish-orange or brownish varieties of zircon or certain other minerals, used as a semiprecious stone
- any of a genus (Hyacinthus) of plants of the lily family, with narrow channeled leaves and spikes of fragrant, bell-shaped flowers in white, yellow, red, blue, or purple
- the bulb of any of these plants
- the flower
- a bluish purple
Origin of hyacinth
Classical Latin hyacinthus from Classical Greek hyakinthos, wild hyacinth, bluebell, blue larkspur, hence a blue gem
hyacinth
noun
- a. A bulbous Mediterranean plant (Hyacinthus orientalis) having narrow leaves and a terminal raceme of variously colored, usually fragrant flowers, with a funnel-shaped perianth.b. Any of several similar or related plants, such as the grape hyacinth.
- Greek Mythology A plant, perhaps the larkspur, gladiolus, or iris, that sprang from the blood of the slain Hyacinthus.
- A deep purplish blue to vivid violet.
- a. A reddish or cinnamon-colored variety of transparent zircon, used as a gemstone. Also called jacinth .b. A blue precious stone, perhaps the sapphire, known in antiquity.
Origin of hyacinth
Latin hyacinthus from Greek huakinthos wild hyacinthRelated Forms:
- hy′a·cin′thine
adjective
hyacinth
garden hyacinth
Hyacinthus orientalis
hyacinth
Noun
(plural hyacinths)
- 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, from Old French jacincte, from Medieval Latin jacintus, from Latin hyacinthus, from Ancient Greek ὑάκινθος (huakinthos, “any of several dark blue flowers”), ultimately from a non-Indo-European Mediterranean language. Relatinized 16c.
Proper noun
- Alternative form of Hyacinthus.
- (rare) A male given name.
- A female given name. One of the less common flower names used since the 19th century.
Origin
Latin Hyacinthus, a saint's name from the name of an Ancient Greek Ὑάκινθος (Huakinthos), a mythological character .
