orchid
(ˈɔːkɪd)
[Introd. by Lindley, 1845, as an Eng. repr. of mod.L. Orchideæ or Orchidaceæ: see orchideous, and -id suffix2.]
1. a. Any plant of the orchis family (Orchidaceæ or Orchideæ), a large and widely distributed family of monocotyledons, distinguished by having one, or rarely two, sessile anthers, united with the pistil (gynandrous) into a central body called the column, and containing pollen coherent in masses (pollinia); the flowers have three sepals and three petals (one petal, called the lip or labellum, being usually much larger than the other two, and of special colour or shape), and vary greatly in appearance, being often remarkable for brilliancy of colour or grotesqueness of form, in some cases resembling various insects and other animals. Orchids are often epiphytes; many exotic species are now cultivated for their beauty.
| 1845 Lindley School Botany (ed. 3) 131 Order lxv. Orchidaceæ..Orchids. 1848 in Craig. 1858 Glenny Gard. Every-day Bk. 111/1 When orchids are in the common hot-house, they should be in the most shady part, and be more frequently syringed than any other plants. 1859 Darwin Orig. Spec. vii. (1873) 172 The flowers of orchids present a multitude of curious structures. 1885 Pall Mall G. 12 May 4/2 The popularity of orchids is a growth of the present century. 1885 Pop. Guide to Ho. Comm. Pall Mall G. Extra No. 21, Everybody knows Mr. Chamberlain... His eye-glass and his orchids are as well known as Mr. Gladstone's collars. |
b. attrib. and Comb.
| 1852 B. S. Williams (title) The orchid-grower's manual. 1861 Tylor Anahuac iv. 89 The fantastic shapes and brilliant colours one sees in English orchid-houses. 1884 Encycl. Brit. XVII. 818/1 Orchid-lovers have better reasons to support their fancy than had the speculative growers and barterers of tulips. 1888 Pall Mall G. 1 Feb. 5/1 The extent..[of] the so-called orchid mania can be estimated from the frequency of public orchid sales, the quantity of orchids now imported. Ibid., Mr. Chamberlain's orchid collection, if not the largest in the country, is at least the best known. 1893 Duke of Argyll Unseen Found. Soc. xv. 492 Sending out orchid-hunters. 1903 Daily Chron. 9 Nov. 3/5 One can never tell what the orchid-seed of enterprise may blossom into. 1908 Westm. Gaz. 28 May 12/1 The dangers of orchid-hunting. 1909 Chambers's Jrnl. July 430/2 Many an orchid-hunter has sacrificed his life to his daring. 1935 N. Mitchison We have been Warned i. ii. 24 Joyce's dress was long and diaphanous, orchid-coloured. 1974 Country Life 18 Apr. 950/4 Already my alpine house and orchid house have been shaded and humidity increased in the latter. 1974 Encycl. Brit. Macropædia XIII. 648/1 Discussions about orchids, whether among professional botanists or amateur orchid enthusiasts, often leave the impression that orchids are ‘somehow different’ from other plants. 1977 A. Wilson Strange Ride R. Kipling iii. 136 Singapore's orchid garden. |
2. A purplish colour or tint.
| 1923 Daily Mail 15 Jan. 1 Shades of Navy, Bisque, Rust, Champagne, Orchid, Flesh, Silver, Nattier Blue, Black, Jade & Ivory. 1936 Times 6 Jan. 11/3 A model Court gown in orchid morganza. 1971 Guardian 28 Sept. 11/2 Quilted raincoat... In sand, orchid, or damson. 1975 D. Ramsay Descent into Dark ii. 78 He wore orchid pyjamas of real silk. |