daffodil

daffodil · noun, adjective¹

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromἀσφόδελος
2. Latin · derived fromasphodelus
3. Medieval Latin · derived fromaffodillus
4. Middle English · derived fromaffodill“ramson”
5. English todaydaffodil

Variant of Middle English affodill (“ramson”), from Medieval Latin affodillus, from Latin asphodelus, from Ancient Greek ἀσφόδελος (asphódelos), of Pre-Greek origin. The initial d- is perhaps from merging of the article in Dutch de affodil, the Netherlands being a source for bulbs (compare adder, apron, newt, nickname, orange and umpire for this rebracketing process). Doublet of asphodel.

Daffodil · proper noun²

From the daffodil flower, used since the end of the 19th century.

Words from the same roots