pasqueflower

[ pask-flou-er ]

noun

1. an Old World plant, Anemone pulsatilla, of the buttercup family, having purple, crocuslike flowers blooming about Easter.
2. a related plant, A. patens, having similar flowers: the state flower of South Dakota.

pasqueflower

/ ˈpɑːskˌflaʊə; ˈpæsk- /

noun

1. a purple-flowered herbaceous ranunculaceous plant, Anemone pulsatilla (or Pulsatilla vulgaris ), of N and Central Europe and W Asia
2. any of several related North American plants, such as A. patens

Word History and Origins

Origin of pasqueflower¹

Pasque (variant spelling of Pasch ) + flower (so named by the herbalist Gerarde in 1597); replacing passeflower < Middle French passefleur; pass

Word History and Origins

Origin of pasqueflower¹

C16: from French passefleur, from passer to excel + fleur flower; changed to pasqueflower Easter flower, because it blooms at Easter