pistil

[ pis-tl ]

noun

, Botany.

1. the ovule-bearing or seed-bearing female organ of a flower, consisting when complete of ovary, style, and stigma.
2. such organs collectively, where there are more than one in a flower.
3. a gynoecium.

pistil

/ ˈpɪstɪl /

noun

1. the female reproductive part of a flower, consisting of one or more separate or fused carpels; gynoecium

pistil

/ pĭs′təl /

1. One of the female reproductive organs of a flower, consisting of a single carpel or of several carpels fused together. A flower may have one pistil or more than one, though some flowers lack pistils and bear only the male reproductive organs known as stamens .
2. See more at carpel

pistil

1. The female part of a plant. In flowering plants, it is at the center of the flower . When fertilized with pollen , the pistil develops into fruit .

Word History and Origins

Origin of pistil¹

1570–80; earlier pistillum, special use of Latin pistillum pestle

Word History and Origins

Origin of pistil¹

C18: from Latin pistillum pestle

Example Sentences

When what does my gentleman do but whips out an 'oss pistil as long as my harm, and shoots my left 'and neighbor dead!

From Project Gutenberg

Thar was a young man named Jeames Hambrick along and another young feller, he got to fooling with his pistil, and he shot Jeames.

From Project Gutenberg

The single pistil is many times enlarged in the monstrous blossom—in one instance two thirds of an inch in diameter for the ovary.

From Project Gutenberg

Within the circle above mentioned there was a second pistil, tipped like the original with petal-like lobes instead of a stigma.

From Project Gutenberg

In many flowers the pistil is entirely wanting, and the plant is perhaps diœcious.

From Project Gutenberg