cornflower

American  

[kawrn-flou-er] / ˈkɔrnˌflaʊ ər /

noun

1. Also called bachelor's-button, bluebottle.  a European composite plant, Centaurea cyanus, growing in grainfields, having blue to white flower heads, often cultivated as an ornamental.

2. Also called cornflower blue.  a deep, vivid blue.

3. corn cockle.

4. strawflower.

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cornflower British  

/ ˈkɔːnˌflaʊə /

noun

1. Also called: bluebottle.  a Eurasian herbaceous plant, Centaurea cyanus, with blue, purple, pink, or white flowers, formerly a common weed in cornfields: family Asteraceae (composites) See also bachelor's-buttons

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Etymology

Origin of cornflower

First recorded in 1570–80; corn ¹ + flower

Example Sentences

This includes cornflowers, corncockle and corn marigold - what he terms the iconic British countryside flowers.

From BBC

Five minutes into the new Hulu documentary “Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna,” the film’s director, Rachel Mason, stands against the cornflower blue of the endless New Mexican sky.

From Los Angeles Times

Of course, in the fashion world, an item of clothing can't just be blue, so Laws says he thinks cornflower and cobalt blue will make a particular appearance across shows.

From BBC

In the resulting enigmatic dreamscapes, muted purples, cornflower blues and soft ochres bloom and spatter and fleck in surprising, delicate ways.

From Seattle Times

The color palette recalled a rainy day on the highlands: moss, brown, slate gray and maroon, cornflower blue, mustard.

From Seattle Times