edelweiss

[ eyd-l-vahys, -wahys ]

noun

1. a small composite plant, Leontopodium alpinum, having white woolly leaves and flowers, growing in the high altitudes of the Alps.
2. a liqueur made in Italy, flavored with the extracts of alpine flowers.

edelweiss

/ ˈeɪdəlˌvaɪs /

noun

1. a small alpine flowering plant, Leontopodium alpinum, having white woolly oblong leaves and a tuft of attractive floral leaves surrounding the flowers: family Asteraceae (composites)

Word History and Origins

Origin of edelweiss¹

1860–65; < German, equivalent to edel noble + weiss white

Word History and Origins

Origin of edelweiss¹

C19: German, literally: noble white

Example Sentences

The edelweiss has been replanted and, perhaps, next spring, its small white flowers will look happy to meet the next batch of tourists.

From BBC

Bellotti added a Swiss touch with leather clad cowbells on bags, and edelweiss hanging by a chain in a mesh pouch.

From Seattle Times

Why are one lady’s edelweiss plants — bought to remind herself of a walking holiday in the Dolomites — all “looking quite dead?”

From Washington Post

There’s a dreamy longing to Melua’s tunes about faded love, reality and illusion, the tug of roots and edelweiss.

From Washington Times

Even outside Oktoberfest season, which finished Sunday after 16 days of drunken beer tent fun, the cool kids wear pretzel-shaped studs and edelweiss caps.

From New York Times