hyacinth

[hahy-uh-sinth]

noun

a bulbous plant, Hyacinthus orientalis, of the lily family, widely cultivated for its cylindrical cluster of fragrant flowers in a variety of colors.

any of various similar or related plants, as the grape hyacinth or the water hyacinth.

a plant fabled to have sprung from the blood of Hyacinthus and variously identified as iris, gladiolus, larkspur, etc.

Mineralogy. a reddish-orange zircon.

a gem of the ancients, held to be the amethyst or sapphire.

Origin of hyacinth

1545–55; < Latin hyacinthus < Greek hyákinthos blue larkspur, also a gem of blue color; cf. jacinth

Also called jacinth for defs 3–5.

Hyacinth

[hahy-uh-sinth]

noun

a female given name.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hyacinth

Historical Examples of hyacinth

He was poor and he was in love with Hyacinth; the chain of evidence was complete.
Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, July 8, 1914
Various
In a moment he reappeared at the door of the mill with Hyacinth under his arm.
Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, July 8, 1914
Various
Mr. Hyacinth Keegan, that's just gone out of court; he's your master, eh?
The Macdermots of Ballycloran
Anthony Trollope
One is the daughter of Hyacinth, keeper of the table furniture.
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 4, No. 2, August, 1863
Various
A delicate blue, ma'am; a little off the sky, and on the hyacinth.
Barrington
Charles James Lever

British Dictionary definitions for hyacinth

hyacinth

noun

any liliaceous plant of the Mediterranean genus Hyacinthus, esp any cultivated variety of H. orientalis, having a thick flower stalk bearing white, blue, or pink fragrant flowers

the flower or bulb of such a plant

any similar or related plant, such as the grape hyacinth

Also called: jacinth a red or reddish-brown transparent variety of the mineral zircon, used as a gemstone

Greek myth a flower which sprang from the blood of the dead Hyacinthus

any of the varying colours of the hyacinth flower or stone
(as modifier)hyacinth eyes

Derived Formshyacinthine (ˌhaɪəˈsɪnθaɪn), adjective

Word Origin for hyacinth

C16: from Latin hyacinthus, from Greek huakinthos

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 hyacinth

1550s, "the plant hyacinth;" re-Greeked from earlier jacinth (late 14c.) "hyacinth; blue cornflower," earlier a precious stone blue (rarely red) in color (c.1200), from Old French jacinte and Medieval Latin jacintus, ultimately from Greek hyakinthos, probably ultimately from a non-Indo-European Mediterranean language. Used in ancient Greece of a blue gem, perhaps sapphire, and of a purple or deep red flower, but exactly which one is unknown (gladiolus, iris, and larkspur have been suggested). Fabled to have sprouted from the blood of Hyakinthos, youth beloved by Apollo and accidentally slain by him. The flower is said to have the letters "AI" or "AIAI" on its petals. The modern use in reference to a particular flowering plant genus is from 1570s.