larkspur Bot.
(ˈlɑːkspɜː(r))
[f. lark n.2 + spur.]
a. Any plant of the genus Delphinium; so called from the spur-shaped calyx. The common larkspur is D. Consolida.
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens ii. xv. 165 The garden Larkes Spurre floureth all the Somer long. 1597 Gerarde Herbal ii. ccccxxvi. 922 The garden Larkes spur hath a rounde stem full of branches. Ibid. 923 The wilde Larkes spur hath most fine iagged leaues. 1664 Evelyn Kal. Hort. Feb. (1679) 11 Sow also Lark-spurs, &c. 1769 De Foe's Tour Gt. Brit. (ed. 7) I. 89 In the Ground between these Hills and Cambridge grows naturally abundance of Larkspur. 1856 Miss Mulock F. Halifax xxi, Sweet-Williams and white-Nancies, and larkspur and London-pride. 1882 Garden 11 Feb. 91/2 Larkspurs are exceedingly showy annuals. |
b. The blue colour characteristic of the larkspur.
| 1927 Sunday Express 27 Feb., Newest Season's colours including..Grey, Cocoa, Larkspur, Fawn. 1927 Daily Express 12 Mar. 3/5 Larkspur, a pastel blue slightly inclining to the mauve. |