celandine

[ sel-uhn-dahyn, -deen ]

noun

1. Also called greater celandine, an Old World plant, Chelidonium majus, of the poppy family, having yellow flowers.
2. Also called lesser celandine. an Old World plant, Ranunculus ficaria, of the buttercup family, having fleshy, heart-shaped leaves and solitary yellow flowers.

celandine

/ ˈsɛlənˌdaɪn /

noun

1. See lesser celandine, greater celandine
   either of two unrelated plants, Chelidonium majus (greater celandine) or Ranunculus ficaria (lesser celandine) See greater celandine lesser celandine

Word History and Origins

Origin of celandine¹

1275–1325; Middle English selandyne, variant of celydon < Latin chelīdonia greater celandine, chelīdonium lesser celandine < Greek chelīdónion, derivative of chelīdṓn swallow; said to be so called because it blooms when the swallows return in spring

Word History and Origins

Origin of celandine¹

C13: earlier celydon, from Latin chelīdonia (the plant), from chelīdonius of the swallow, from Greek khelidōn swallow; the plant's season was believed to parallel the migration of swallows

Example Sentences

The juice of the greater celandine will adorn you with the most beautiful eruptions and tumors.

From Project Gutenberg

She's the best groomed one of the whole stud, though why you call her Celandine I can't think.

From Project Gutenberg

By now the sun was up, and the celandine calices expanded into perfect golden stars.

From Project Gutenberg

The lovely, celandine-yellow morning of the open sea, paling towards a rare, sweet blue!

From Project Gutenberg

From a human point of view a celandine bed is the most beautiful thing.

From Project Gutenberg