primrose

What it means

1. A flowering plant of the genus Primula.

   Here is spring were celandine, marsh marigold, wind-flower, primrose, cowslip and dog's violet.

   1977, K.M. Elizabeth Murray, Caught in the Web of Words, Oxford: Oxford University Press, page 13

   1 more example

   A mile or so further on is the intermediate station of Ryhall, smothered with primroses in the season, and at all times a veritable flower garden.

   1946 September and October, D. J. Rowett, “Stamford L.N.E.R.”, in Railway Magazine, page 283

   1. Specifically, the species Primula acaulis (syn. Primula vulgaris), also called common primrose.

      Synonyms: plumrock, plumrose

2. A plant of the family Primulaceae.

In a sentence

A mile or so further on is the intermediate station of Ryhall, smothered with primroses in the season, and at all times a veritable flower garden.

1946 September and October, D. J. Rowett, “Stamford L.N.E.R.”, in Railway Magazine, page 283

Where it comes from

1. Medieval Latinprima“first”
2. Old Frenchprimerose
3. Middle Englishprimerose
4. Englishprimrose

From Middle English primerose, from Old French primerose, from Medieval Latin prima (“first”) + rosa (“rose”). The designation may derive from the fact that certain species of primroses are among the earliest flowers to bloom in the spring season.