catkin

[kat-kin]

noun Botany.

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

Origin of catkin

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

Also called ament.

Related formscat·kin·ate

[kat-kuh-neyt] /ˈkæt kəˌneɪt/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for catkin

Historical Examples of catkin

Peridon and Catkin, and Mr. Pempton took their usual places.
One of Our Conquerors, Complete
George Meredith
Fenellan, Mr. Pempton, Peridon and Catkin, lunched and chatted.
One of Our Conquerors, Complete
George Meredith
The female flowers are also in a sort of catkin, and four or five together.
Botany for Ladies
Jane Loudon
Catkin killing was very severe in both orchards and only those varieties which had a few live catkins are listed.
Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the Twenty-Fifth Annual Meeting
Northern Nut Growers Association
The Taylor every year sets a bunch of young nutlets, but I have never yet seen a catkin on it.
Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the Twenty-Fifth Annual Meeting
Northern Nut Growers Association

British Dictionary definitions for catkin

catkin

noun

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

Word Origin for catkin

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for catkin

1570s, from Dutch katteken "flowering stem of willow, birch, hazel, etc.," literally "kitten," diminutive of katte "cat" (see cat (n.)). So called for their soft, furry appearance.

catkin in Science

catkin

[kăt′kĭn]

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. Also called ament See illustration at inflorescence.