cyclamen
(ˈsɪkləmɛn)
Also (6 ciclamin), 7 cyclamine, siclamine, (8 ciclament).
[med. and mod.L. cyclamen, L. cyclamīnos or -on, Gr. κυκλάµινος (also κυκλαµίς), ? f. κύκλ-ος circle, with reference to the shape of the bulbous root.]
a. A genus of Primulaceæ, belonging to Southern Europe, cultivated for their handsome early-blooming flowers; the fleshy root-stocks are greedily sought after by swine, whence the name sowbread. b. A plant of this genus.
| c 1550 Lloyd Treas. Health (1585) N ij, Y⊇ rote of Ciclamin. 1578 Lyte Dodoens iii. xi. 329 Of Sowbread..There be two sortes of Cyclamen, as Dioscorides writeth. 1727 Bradley Fam. Dict. s.v. Cyclamen, The way of planting Cyclamens, is to put their Bulbs two Inches deep in the Ground. 1830 Lindley Nat. Syst. Bot. 226 The root of Cyclamen is famous for its acridity; yet this is the principal food of the wild boars of Sicily. 1856 Emerson Eng. Traits, First visit to Eng. Wks. (Bohn) II. 3 He praised the beautiful cyclamen which grows all about Florence. |
c. The shade of colour characteristic of the red or pink cyclamen flower.
| 1923 Daily Mail 29 Jan. 1 In shades of Powder Blue..Cyclamen,..Flamingo, Pink. 1926 Spectator 24 Apr. 750/2 Sleeveless cardigan, in various shades of cyclamen, rose marie and saxe. 1960 Harper's Bazaar Aug. 80/2 Cyclamen rayon satin. |