catkin

American  

[kat-kin] / ˈkæt kɪn /

noun

Botany.

1. a spike of unisexual, apetalous flowers having scaly, usually deciduous bracts, as of a willow or birch.

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catkin British  

/ ˈkætkɪn /

noun

1. Also called: ament.  an inflorescence consisting of a spike, usually hanging, of much reduced flowers of either sex: occurs in birch, hazel, etc

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catkin Scientific  

/ kăt′kĭn /

1. A long, thin, indeterminate inflorescence of tiny, petalless flowers growing on willows, birches, oaks, poplars, and certain other trees. The flowers on a catkin are either all male or all female. The female flowers are usually pollinated by the wind.

2. Also called ament

3. See illustration at inflorescence

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Other Word Forms

• catkinate
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of catkin

First recorded in 1570–80, catkin is from the Dutch word katteken little cat (now obsolete). See cat, -kin

Example Sentences

Catkin, bracted flowers situated along a slender and usually drooping stem.

From Trees of the Northern United States Their Study, Description and Determination by Apgar, A. C. (Austin Craig)

"Catkin yourself," from John, and so on ad lib.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 158, 1920-04-14 by Various

Catkin bearing nut trees, such as the walnut, have a refined structure that makes grafting difficult.

From Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the Thirty-Eighth Annual Meeting Guelph, Ontario, September 3, 4, 5, 1947 by Northern Nut Growers Association

Catkin killing was very severe in both orchards and only those varieties which had a few live catkins are listed.

From Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the Twenty-Fifth Annual Meeting Battle Creek, Michigan, September 10 and 11, 1934 by Northern Nut Growers Association

Two particular forms of the spike and the head have received particular names, namely, the Spadix and the Catkin.

From The Elements of Botany For Beginners and For Schools by Gray, Asa