cornflower

American  

[kawrn-flou-er] / ˈkɔrnˌflaʊ ər /

noun

1. Also called bachelor's-button, bluebottle.  a European composite plant, Centaurea cyanus, growing in grainfields, having blue to white flower heads, often cultivated as an ornamental.

2. Also called cornflower blue.  a deep, vivid blue.

3. corn cockle.

4. strawflower.

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cornflower British  

/ ˈkɔːnˌflaʊə /

noun

1. Also called: bluebottle.  a Eurasian herbaceous plant, Centaurea cyanus, with blue, purple, pink, or white flowers, formerly a common weed in cornfields: family Asteraceae (composites) See also bachelor's-buttons

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Etymology

Origin of cornflower

First recorded in 1570–80; corn ¹ + flower

Example Sentences

Officers patrolling the 8000 block of Cornflower Circle Friday night saw several people frantically carry the child into a residence after multiple fireworks had detonated in the area.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 5, 2025

The pre-approved paint colors for buildings, with names like Paris Green, Cornflower Blue, Sunwashed Gold, and Sea Green, are coded.

From The New Yorker • Aug. 12, 2019

Mostly we played square dances, though we had two or three waltzes�'The First Kiss Waltz,' 'The Cornflower Waltz,' 'The Skaters' and 'Where, Oh Where, Has My Little Dog Gone?'

From Time Magazine Archive

Cornflower was never quite sure of what Foremole was saying, but she loved listening to his funny, countrified-mole dialect.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

Cornflower and Friar Hugo exited leaning upon each other, their faces crimson with suppressed laughter.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques