arethusa

[ ar-uh-thoo-zuh ]

noun

1. Also called dragon's mouth, swamp pink. an orchid, Arethusa bulbosa, of eastern North America, having a solitary pink flower with a blotched, fringed lip: now rare.
2. (initial capital letter) Classical Mythology. a nymph who was changed into a spring to save her when she was being pursued by the river god Alpheus.

arethusa

¹

/ ˌærɪˈθjuːzə /

noun

1. a North American orchid, Arethusa bulbosa, having one long narrow leaf and one rose-purple flower fringed with yellow

Arethusa

²

/ ˌærɪˈθjuːzə /

noun

1. Greek myth a nymph who was changed into a spring on the island of Ortygia to escape the amorous advances of the river god Alpheus

Word History and Origins

Origin of arethusa¹

1810–20; (< New Latin ) < Greek Aréthousa

Example Sentences

To begin with, all these pinky-purple, these arethusa tints are nameless; perhaps orchid color is as good a name as any.

From Project Gutenberg

Even the tender pink orchid blooms of arethusa lingered among the grasses, in shadowy, cool-rooted spots, though the arethusa begins to bloom there in late May.

From Project Gutenberg

When June comes,—when the clethra is heaped with its bee-beloved blossoms, and the grass is green and bright as never again in the year, then the arethusa is to be sought.

From Project Gutenberg

Now, after he has drained the next arethusa, his pollen-laden head must rub against the long sticky stigma before it touches the helmet-like anther lid and precipitates another volley of pollen.

From Project Gutenberg