convolvulus

From Latin convolvulus (“bindweed; caterpillar”), from convolvō (“convolve”).

convolvulus (plural convolvuluses or convolvuli)

1. (botany) Any of several plants, of the genus Convolvulus, found in temperate climates, having small trumpet-shaped flowers.
   • 1994, Edmund Swinglehurst, The Art of the Pre-Raphaelites: A Compilation of Works from the Bridgeman Art Library, Parragon Book Service Limited, →ISBN, “Stages of Cruelty · 1856–90 · Ford Madox Brown”, page 38/2:

     In this painting he uses the lovers for his narrative and makes his symbolic points with the convolvulus, signifying entanglements, climbing up the steps.

2. (zoology) A species of hawkmoth, Agrius convolvuli.
   • 1922, Virginia Woolf, Jacob's Room, Vintage Classics, paperback edition, page 51,

     Already the convolvulus moth was spinning over the flowers.

• bindweed
• morning glory

• convolvolus

convolvō +‎ -ulus

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /konˈwol.wu.lus/, [kɔnˈwɔɫ.wʊ.ɫʊs]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /konˈvol.vu.lus/

convolvulus m (genitive convolvulī); second declension

1. the caterpillar of the vine moth (Eupoecilia ambiguella), which wraps itself up in the leaves of the vine
2. larger bindweed, hedge bindweed, Rutland beauty, bugle vine, heavenly trumpets, bellbind, granny-pop-out-of-bed (Calystegia sepium)
3. (Medieval Latin) colic (severe pains that grip the abdomen or the disease that causes such pains)

Second-declension noun.

• (colic): cōlica, dolor alvī (literally “pain of the bowels”)

• Translingual: Convolvulus (generic name)
• English: convolvulus
• Italian: convolvolo
• Portuguese: convólvulo
• Spanish: convólvulo

• convolvŭlus in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• convolvulus in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
• convolvŭlus in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette, page 427/2
• “conuoluolus” on page 441/3 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)