I. ˈkäləmˌbīn, -_bə̇n noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin columbina, from feminine of Latin columbinus dovelike, from columba dove + -inus -ine; from the fancied resemblance of the inverted bloom to a group of five doves; akin to Greek kolymbos, a bird (probably a grebe), Old High German holuntar elder tree, Old Swedish hylle elder, Greek kelainos black, Sanskrit kalanka spot, nest; basic meaning: spot
1. : a plant of the genus Aquilegia: as
a. : a red-flowered plant ( A. canadensis ) of eastern No. America
b. : a blue-flowered plant ( A. coerulea ) of the Rocky mountains
2. or columbine blue : a moderate purplish blue to violet
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columbine a
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II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French colombin, from Latin columbinus
: of, relating to, or similar to a dove
a columbine form
columbine innocence
III. “, -ˌbēn noun
( -s )
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: Italian Colombina, diminutive of colomba dove, from Latin columba
: the pert and adroit young girl in English harlequinade and in the later commedia dell' arte, in the English harlequinade usually being Pantaloon's daughter or ward in love with Harlequin