Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Hyacinth?

\Hy"a*cinth\, n. [L. hyacinthus a kind of flower, prob. the iris, gladiolus, or larkspur, also a kind of gem, perh. the sapphire; as, a proper name, Hyacinthus, a beautiful Laconian youth, beloved by Apollo, fr. Gr. ?, ?: cf. F. hyacinthe. Cf. {Jacinth}. The hyacinth was fabled to have sprung from the blood of Hyacinthus, who was accidentally slain by Apollo.] 1. (Bot.) (a) A bulbous plant of the genus {Hyacinthus}, bearing beautiful spikes of fragrant flowers. {H. orientalis} is a common variety. (b) A plant of the genus {Camassia} ({C. Farseri}), called also {Eastern camass}; wild hyacinth. (c) The name also given to {Scilla Peruviana}, a Mediterranean plant, one variety of which produces white, and another blue, flowers; -- called also, from a mistake as to its origin, {Hyacinth of Peru}. 2. (Min.) A red variety of zircon, sometimes used as a gem. See {Zircon}. {Hyacinth bean} (Bot.), a climbing leguminous plant ({Dolichos Lablab}), related to the true bean. It has dark purple flowers and fruit.