catkin
[kat-kin]
- a spike of unisexual, apetalous flowers having scaly, usually deciduous bracts, as of a willow or birch.
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Origin of catkin
Also called ament.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for catkin
Historical Examples
Peridon and Catkin, and Mr. Pempton took their usual places.
One of Our Conquerors, CompleteGeorge Meredith
Fenellan, Mr. Pempton, Peridon and Catkin, lunched and chatted.
One of Our Conquerors, CompleteGeorge Meredith
The female flowers are also in a sort of catkin, and four or five together.
Botany for LadiesJane 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 MeetingNorthern 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 MeetingNorthern Nut Growers Association
catkin
- an inflorescence consisting of a spike, usually hanging, of much reduced flowers of either sex: occurs in birch, hazel, etcAlso called: ament
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for catkin
n.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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