jonquil

[ jong-kwil, jon- ]

noun

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

jonquil

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of jonquil¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of jonquil¹

C17: from French jonquille, from Spanish junquillo, diminutive of junco reed; see junco

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

Their tiny glass perfume flacons, worn on a chain around the neck, were adorned in enamel with ukiyo-e-inspired scenes of snow-capped mountains or herons in fields of jonquils.

From New York Times

Druse recommends 13 scented jonquil varieties, including Baby Moon, Pipit, Suzy and Sailboat.

From Washington Post

“Aw, shah!” she snapped, jabbing a cone-shaped tin cemetery urn into the ground for the jonquils we brought.

From Literature

The city was a mad March quilt of daffodils and jonquils, the streets stitched in yellow bands of forsythia.

From Washington Post