baby's-breath

American  

[bey-beez-breth] / ˈbeɪ bizˌbrɛθ /

Or babies'-breath

noun

1. a tall plant, Gypsophila paniculata, of the pink family, having lance-shaped leaves and numerous small, fragrant, white or pink flowers.

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baby's-breath British  

noun

1. a tall Eurasian caryophyllaceous plant, Gypsophila paniculata , bearing small white or pink fragrant flowers

2. any of several other plants, such as the grape hyacinth and certain bedstraws, that have small scented flowers

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Etymology

Origin of baby's-breath

First recorded in 1885–90; so called from its delicate odor and bloom

Example Sentences

Myriad baby’s-breath flowers spray-painted silver were chosen by Givenchy as the show decor inside its illustrious couture salons.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 16, 2020

“My son was killed in this war,” Janet Long said after she left roses and baby’s-breath at her son’s grave.

From Washington Post • Jul. 26, 2011

Patsy and the tinker marked how close things huddled to it, even creeping on to cover stones and gravel stretches; there were moss and ferns and little, clinging things, like baby’s-breath and linnea.

From Seven Miles to Arden by Sawyer, Ruth

On the stalks of larkspur and phlox she laid a mass of pink snapdragons and white candytuft, tucking in here and there sprays of just-opening baby’s-breath to give a misty look to the basket.

From The Camerons of Highboro by Gilchrist, Beth Bradford