wake-robin

American  

[weyk-rob-in] / ˈweɪkˌrɒb ɪn /

noun

1. the cuckoopint.

2. any of various plants belonging to the genus Trillium, native to eastern North America, of the lily family, as T. erectum, having rank-smelling purple, yellow, or white flowers.

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wake-robin British  

noun

1. any of various North American herbaceous plants of the genus Trillium, such as T. grandiflorum, having a whorl of three leaves and three-petalled solitary flowers: family Trilliaceae

2. any of various aroid plants, esp the cuckoopint

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Etymology

Origin of wake-robin

First recorded in 1520–30

Example Sentences

Fresh green heads of bosky ferns and wake-robin were pushing up through the old mats of last year's foliage.

From A Busy Year at the Old Squire's by Stephens, C. A. (Charles Asbury)

At the same time, perhaps a day or two earlier, the white oblong petals of the dwarf trillium, or wake-robin, will gleam in the rich woods.

From Some Winter Days in Iowa by Lazell, Frederick John

Some brought handfuls of columbine from rocky nooks, and others the purple trillium, that is near of kin to Burroughs's white "wake-robin."

From Nature's Serial Story by Roe, Edward Payson

The dandelion tells me when to look for the swallow, the dogtooth violet when to expect the wood-thrush, and when I have found the wake-robin in bloom I know the season is fairly inaugurated.

From Wake-Robin by Burroughs, John

A meal of grubs and peppery wake-robin roots left him happy, but still he rambled on, following his nose and alert for any new adventure.

From Followers of the Trail by Stecher, William F. (William Frederick)