‖ aandblom S. Afr.
(ˈɑːntblɔm)
Also 9 aantblom, avondbloem.
[Afrikaans, f. aand evening + blom flower; cf. Du. avondbloem.]
Any of several sweet-scented iridaceous wild flowers, esp. Hesperantha falcata. Also dim. ‖ aandblommetjie (-əcɪ) (earlier often written in Du. form avondbloemetje).
| 1822 W. J. Burchell Trav. I. 273, I here met with a remarkable species of Avond-bloem (Hesperanthera). 1870 Cape Monthly Mag. Aug. 108 The scent of the ‘avond bloemetjies’ is fragrant in the air. 1890 A. Martin Home Life Ostrich Farm 21 Another of our favourites was the aantblom, a kind of ixia. 1915 R. Marloth Flora S. Afr. IV. 145 H. falcata (Avond bloemetje, generally pronounced ‘aandbloem’). 1927 Chambers's Jrnl. Mar. 190/1 Wild flowers, from the stately arum lily..to the modest avondbloem, which at night perfumed the whole veld with its fragrance. 1927 Farming S. Afr. 171 How often does one see..the beautiful ‘painted ladies’ or ‘aandblommetjies’ adding scent to the garden in the evening. 1953 V. Buchanan-Gould Vast Heritage v. 80 Here the flowers had no perfume except for the rare aandblom. |