catkin

[kat-kin]

noun

Botany.

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

catkin

/ 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

catkin

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

Other Word Forms

• catkinate adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of catkin¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of catkin¹

C16: from obsolete Dutch katteken kitten, identical in meaning with French chaton, German Kätzchen

Example Sentences

At this time of year, stretches of warmer days coax open a cascade of willows’ fuzzy catkins, putting another Salix strength on display.

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As numbers begin to fall and oak catkins gather in gutters, daily levels have so far remained high to very high.

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Male flowers are yellowish and hang down as catkins.

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In addition to the yellowish film from the pollen, you might notice their long catkins — small flowering pollen production machines — gathering when they drift off the trees and settle about the landscape.

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Many woody trees and shrubs have beautiful emerging leaves and catkins, like Japanese maple, birch, twig dogwood, various willows and even the humble alder.

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