jonquil

American  

[jong-kwil, jon-] / ˈdʒɒŋ kwɪl, ˈdʒɒn- /

noun

1. a narcissus, Narcissus jonquilla, having long, narrow, rushlike leaves and fragrant, yellow or white flowers.

---

jonquil British  

/ ˈdʒɒŋkwɪl /

noun

1. a Eurasian amaryllidaceous plant, Narcissus jonquilla with long fragrant yellow or white short-tubed flowers

2. any of various other small daffodil-like plants

---

Etymology

Origin of jonquil

1620–30; < French jonquille < Spanish junquillo, equivalent to junc ( o ) rush, reed (< Latin juncus ) + -illo diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

The number, a duet for Victoria and Jonquil, doesn’t make importunate emotional demands and is all the more poignant for its restraint.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 9, 2025

Jonquil Nicholl, a midwife with the aid group who delivered the baby, said it was "a very normal birth in dangerously abnormal conditions."

From US News • Sep. 13, 2016

After writing on BBC children's programmes At Your Service, Ltd and Stranger from Space in the early 1950s, she worked on radio serial Mrs Dale's Diary with Jonquil Antony.

From BBC • Nov. 23, 2015

Twelve years ago this same ship was the bouncing little British fleet-sweeper, Jonquil.

From Time Magazine Archive

He sang of Jonquil and Florian, of Prince Aemon the Dr agon knight and his love for his brother's queen, of Nymeria's ten thousand ships.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin