ragged robin

noun

1. a plant, Lychnis flos-cuculi, of the pink family, having pink or white flowers with dissected petals.

ragged robin

noun

1. a caryophyllaceous plant, Lychnis floscuculi , native to Europe and Asia, that has pink or white flowers with ragged petals Also calledcuckooflower See also catchfly

Word History and Origins

Origin of ragged robin¹

First recorded in 1735–45

Example Sentences

They went slowly along the foot of the bank, pushing in and out of the clumps of red campion and ragged robin.

From Literature

“I really believe the public is prepared to pay subsidies to keep farmland like this for our grandchildren,” she said, among the ragged robin and marsh orchids.

From BBC

Once the road from Eltham to Woolwich was a grassy lane with hedges and big trees in the hedges, and wild pinks and Bethlehem stars, and ragged robin and campion.

From Project Gutenberg

There is a wealth of wild flowers everywhere—blue-eyed speedwells, the yellow celandine, the crimson of clover, the ragged robin, and ox-eye daisies weeping dew.

From Project Gutenberg

He dropped down exhausted; the corn-stalks waved high over his head, the crickets chirped, the ragged robins and wild poppies nodded about him.

From Project Gutenberg