celandine

English

Etymology

Middle English celidoine, Old French celidoine, French chélidoine, from Latin chelīdonia, from chelīdonius (“relating to the swallow”), from Ancient Greek χελιδόνιος (khelidónios), χελιδών (khelidṓn). It was traditionally supposed to flower when the swallows appeared, and to perish when they departed.

Noun

celandine (plural celandines)

  1. Either of two unrelated flowering plants:
    1. The greater celandine (Chelidonium majus)
    2. The lesser celandine (Ficaria verna, formerly Ranunculus ficaria)
    • 1950, C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Collins, 1998, Chapter 11,
      Coming suddenly round a corner into a glade of silver birch trees Edmund saw the ground covered in all directions with little yellow flowers—celandines.

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