pikake

[ pee-kah-key ]

noun

1. a climbing vine, Jasminium sambac, of the olive family, probably of Asian origin, having fragrant white flowers used to flavor jasmine tea and, in Hawaii, to make leis.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pikake¹

1935–40; < Hawaiian pīkake literally, peacock, allegedly a name given to the plant by the Hawaiian princess Kaʾiu-lani (1875–99)