Dutchman's breeches

Or Dutch·man's-breech·es

[duhch-muhnz brich-iz]

noun

plural

Dutchman's breeches 

1. a plant, Dicentra cucullaria, of the fumitory family, having long clusters of pale yellow, two-spurred flowers.

Dutchman's-breeches

noun

1. Also called: colicweed. (functioning as singular) a North American plant, Dicentra cucullaria, with finely divided basal leaves and pink flowers: family Fumariaceae

Word History and Origins

Origin of Dutchman's breeches¹

First recorded in 1830–40; so called from the shape of the flowers

Example Sentences

Norway maple is an invasive plant that has escaped from cultivation to displace sugar maple and shade to death spring wildflowers such as Dutchman’s breeches, dog-tooth violet and mayapple.

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Workers also replaced the invasive plants they removed with native species — Dutchman’s breeches, shooting stars and trillium, among others.

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“That’s one of the big reasons that, five years ago, we decided to start this expansion project,” Mr. Lorimer told me as he led the way through the original Native Flora Garden, a lush woodland with 500 native species, including stands of spring ephemerals like Dutchman’s breeches, trout lilies, trillium and bloodroot.

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“Enough blue sky to make a Dutchman’s breeches indicates clearing,” is one that is true if the wind has changed to the west.

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Among the rocks you will find, swinging, the little Dutchman's Breeches, with their peculiar little flowers that look like pairs of trousers hung on a line.

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