COLUMBINE

[col.um.bine] n [ME, fr. ML columbina, fr. L, fem. of columbinus like a dove, fr. columba dove; akin to OHG holuntar elder tree, Gk kolymbos a small grebe, kelainos black] (14c): any of a genus (Aquilegia) of plants of the buttercup family with irregular showy spurred flowers: as a: a red-flowered plant (A. canadensis) of eastern No. America b: a blue-flowered plant (A. caerulea) of the Rocky Mountains Col.um.bine n [It Colombina]: the saucy sweetheart of Harlequin in comedy and pantomime