jonquil

American  

[jong-kwil, jon-] / ˈdʒɒŋ kwɪl, ˈdʒɒn- /

noun

1. a narcissus, Narcissus jonquilla, having long, narrow, rushlike leaves and fragrant, yellow or white flowers.

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jonquil British  

/ ˈdʒɒŋkwɪl /

noun

1. a Eurasian amaryllidaceous plant, Narcissus jonquilla with long fragrant yellow or white short-tubed flowers

2. any of various other small daffodil-like plants

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Etymology

Origin of jonquil

1620–30; < French jonquille < Spanish junquillo, equivalent to junc ( o ) rush, reed (< Latin juncus ) + -illo diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

In the South, daffodils are sometimes known as jonquils, because the jonquil was the one type of daffodil that could reliably grow in a climate with milder winters and hotter summers.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 6, 2021

An old man in jonquil pants sits on a fence.

From New York Times • Jan. 6, 2015

If anything about Patagonia is still otherworldly, it’s the colors embedded in the landscape — teal, mauve, mahogany, jonquil, periwinkle, azure, lavender.

From New York Times • Sep. 16, 2011

"The round rug is an oasis," Teddy explained, "and the jonquil is a palm—and we are going to save the dates and figs from our lunch."

From The Tin Soldier by Bailey, Temple

The name Junquillo is the Spanish diminutive of Junco, "the rush," and is given to the jonquil because of its slender rush-like stem.

From Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure by Fernie, William Thomas