daffodil

Variant of Middle English affodill, from Medieval Latin affodillus, from Latin asphodelus, from Ancient Greek ἀσφόδελος (asphódelos), of unknown origin. The initial d- is perhaps from merging of the article in Dutch de affodil, the Netherlands being a source for bulbs. (Compare adder, apron, newt, nickname, orange and umpire)

• IPA^(key): /ˈdæfəˌdɪl/

daffodil (comparative more daffodil, superlative most daffodil)

1. Of a brilliant yellow color, like that of a daffodil.

daffodil (plural daffodils)

1. A bulbous plant of the genus Narcissus, with yellow flowers and a trumpet shaped corona, especially Narcissus pseudonarcissus, the national flower of Wales.
   • 1610, William Shakespeare, The Winter’s Tale, Act IV, Scene 3,

     When daffodils begin to peer,

     With heigh! the doxy over the dale,

     Why, then comes in the sweet o’ the year;

     For the red blood reigns in the winter’s pale.

   • 1807, William Wordsworth, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” in Poems, in Two Volumes, London: Longman, Hurst, Rees & Orme, Volume 2, p. 49,

     I wandered lonely as a Cloud

     That floats on high o’er Vales and Hills,

     When all at once I saw a crowd

     A host of dancing Daffodills;

     Along the Lake, beneath the trees,

     Ten thousand dancing in the breeze.

   • 1920, A. A. Milne, “Daffodils” in Not that it Matters,

     Was there ever a more beautiful name in the world than daffodil? Say it over to yourself, and then say “agapanthus” or “chrysanthemum,” or anything else you please, and tell me if the daffodils do not have it.

2. A brilliant yellow color, like that of a daffodil.

   daffodil colour:  

   • a. 1886, Emily Dickinson, XIX, Where Ships of Purple — gently toss —

     Where Ships of Purple — gently toss —

     On Seas of Daffodil —

     Fantastic Sailors — mingle —

     And then — the Wharf is still!

• daff

• asphodel
• hippeastrum (Hippeastrum)
• jonquil
• Lent lily
• star grass
• Appendix:Colors

• daffodil on Wikipedia.Wikipedia