columbine 1
/kol"euhm buyn'/ , n.
1. a plant, Aquilegia caerula, of the buttercup family, having showy flowers with white petals and white to blue sepals that form long, backward spurs: the state flower of Colorado.
2. any of various other plants of the genus Aquilegia, characterized by divided leaves and showy flowers of various colors.
[ 1275-1325; ME columbina ( herba ) dovelike (plant), fem. of L columbinus (see COLUMBINE 2 ); the inverted flower looks like a group of doves ]
columbine 2
/kol"euhm buyn', -bin/ , adj.
1. of a dove.
2. dovelike; dove-colored.
[ 1350-1400; ME columbinus, equiv. to columb ( a ) dove + -inus -INE 1 ]