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eglantine

[eg-luh n-tahyn, -teen]
noun
  1. the sweetbrier.
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Origin of eglantine

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French; Old French aiglent (< Vulgar Latin *aculentum, neuter of *aculentus prickly, equivalent to Latin acu(s) needle + -lentus adj. suffix) + -ine -ine1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for eglantine

Historical Examples

  • He could think of nothing but an old familiar hedge of eglantine.

    The Genius

    Margaret Horton Potter

  • "That fellow Eglantine will create another Pun-ic war," said Sparkle.

    The English Spy

    Bernard Blackmantle

  • His sister was also a poet and her verses are included in the “Wreath of Eglantine.”

  • This meed of poetic honour was an eglantine composed of silver.

  • But Sidonie cared no more for lilies of the valley than for eglantine.

British Dictionary definitions for eglantine

eglantine

noun
  1. another name for sweetbrier
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Word Origin

C14: from Old French aiglent, ultimately from Latin acus needle, from acer sharp, keen
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

Word Origin and History for eglantine

n.

"sweet briar," c.1400, from French églantine, from Old French aiglent "dog rose," from Vulgar Latin *aquilentus "rich in prickles," from Latin aculeus "spine, prickle," diminutive of acus "needle" (see acuity).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper