petunia

[pi-oo-nyuh, -nee-uh, -tyoo-]

noun

any garden plant belonging to the genus Petunia, of the nightshade family, native to tropical America, having funnel-shaped flowers of various colors.
a deep, reddish purple.

Origin of petunia

1815–25; < New Latin < obsolete French petun tobacco < Tupi petyn; see -ia

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

Examples from the Web for petunia

Historical Examples of petunia

There was a patter of feet from the sitting-room and Barbara came running, Petunia in her arms.
Shavings
Joseph C. Lincoln
So Petunia would feel bad if I didn't go to Sam's, would she?
Shavings
Joseph C. Lincoln
Petunia and I know you ever and ever so well now and we're used to—to the way you do.
Shavings
Joseph C. Lincoln
And Petunia and I expect one, too, and we're just as excited about it as we can be.
Shavings
Joseph C. Lincoln
You just want Petunia and me for company, same as we want you.
Shavings
Joseph C. Lincoln

British Dictionary definitions for petunia

petunia

noun

any solanaceous plant of the tropical American genus Petunia: cultivated for their white, pink, blue, or purple funnel-shaped flowers

Word Origin for petunia

C19: via New Latin from obsolete French petun variety of tobacco, from Tupi petyn

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 petunia

1825, from Modern Latin Petunia (1789), from French petun (16c.), an obsolete word for "tobacco plant," from Portuguese petum, from Guarani (Paraguay) pety. It has a botanical affinity to the tobacco plant. The word first is recorded (in German) as bittin; it survives as the regular word for tobacco only in Breton butun, but it was in use in English in 17c.

Many haue giuen it the name, Petum, whiche is in deede the proper name of the Hearbe, as they whiche haue traueiled that countrey can tell. [John Frampton, translation of Nicolás Monardes' "Joyful Newes Oute of the Newe Founde Worlde," 1577]