corydalis

[kuh-rid-l-is]

noun

any of the erect or climbing plants constituting the genus Corydalis, of the poppy family, having divided leaves, tuberous or fibrous roots, and clusters of irregular spurred flowers.

Origin of corydalis

1810–20; < New Latin < Greek korydallís, extended variant of korydós crested lark, derivative of koryd-, variant of koryth- (stem of kórys) helmet, head, crest; akin to kára head

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

Examples from the Web for corydalis

Historical Examples of corydalis

Corydaline, kor′id-a-lin, n. an alkaloid obtained from the root of Corydalis tuberosa.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)
Various
Corydalis in the garden seems so garden-bred that you almost forget the flower was ever wild.
Old-Time Gardens
Alice Morse Earle
The little geranium known as herb-robert is a neighbor of the corydalis, and, like it, stands the cold remarkably well.
A Rambler's lease
Bradford Torrey
The hellgramite, the larva of the corydalis fly, in its native waters, is also successful for still-fishing.
Favorite Fish and Fishing
James Alexander Henshall
Farther on are close green tufts of the Corydalis, with its delicate lilac flowers.
A Year in a Lancashire Garden
Henry Arthur Bright

British Dictionary definitions for corydalis

corydalis

noun

any erect or climbing plant of the N temperate genus Corydalis, having finely-lobed leaves and spurred yellow or pinkish flowers: family FumariaceaeAlso called: fumitory

Word Origin for corydalis

C19: from New Latin, from Greek korudallis variant of korudos crested lark, from korus helmet, crest; alluding to the appearance of the flowers

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