cat's-ear

[ kats-eer ]

noun

1. Also called gosmore. any of several Old World composite plants of the genus Hypochaeris, having leaves in a rosette at the base and dandelionlike yellow or white flowers, especially H. radicata, naturalized as a weed in the western U.S.
2. any western American plant of the genus Calochortus, of the lily family, as C. coeruleus or C. elegans, having white or bluish bell-shaped flowers.

cat's-ear

noun

1. any of various European plants of the genus Hypochoeris, esp H. radicata, having dandelion-like heads of yellow flowers: family Asteraceae (composites)

Word History and Origins

Origin of cat's-ear¹

First recorded in 1840–50