twayblade

[ twey-bleyd ]

noun
  1. any of various orchids, especially of the genera Listera and Liparis, characterized by two nearly opposite broad leaves.

Origin of twayblade

1
1570–80; dial. tway (apocopated form of Old English twēgentwain) + blade

Words Nearby twayblade

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British Dictionary definitions for twayblade

twayblade

/ (ˈtweɪˌbleɪd) /


noun
  1. any terrestrial orchid of the genus Listera, having a basal pair of oval unstalked leaves arranged opposite each other

  2. any of various other orchids with paired basal leaves

Origin of twayblade

1
C16: translation of Medieval Latin bifolium having two leaves, from obsolete tway two + blade

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