twayblade

[ twey-bleyd ]

noun

1. any of various orchids, especially of the genera Listera and Liparis, characterized by two nearly opposite broad leaves.

twayblade

/ ˈtweɪˌbleɪd /

noun

1. any terrestrial orchid of the genus Listera , having a basal pair of oval unstalked leaves arranged opposite each other
2. any of various other orchids with paired basal leaves

Word History and Origins

Origin of twayblade¹

1570–80; dial. tway (apocopated form of Old English twēgen twain ) + blade

Word History and Origins

Origin of twayblade¹

C16: translation of Medieval Latin bifolium having two leaves, from obsolete tway two + blade

Example Sentences

“Oh, that’s a twayblade,” I replied, “one of the orchis family.”

From Project Gutenberg