bird's-foot violet

noun

1. a violet, Viola pedata, of the eastern and midwestern U.S., having single flowers with a yellow center, two purple upper petals, and three lavender lower petals: the state flower of Wisconsin.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bird's-foot violet¹

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

Example Sentences

Frequently the bird's-foot violet blooms a second time, in autumn, a delightful eccentricity of this family.

From Project Gutenberg