gay-feather

[gey-feth-er]

noun

any of several composite plants of the genus Liatris, especially L. spicata or L. scariosa, having hairy leaves and long clusters of purplish flowers.

Origin of gay-feather

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20

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