scilla

noun

scil·la ˈsi-lə

ˈski-

: any of a genus (Scilla) of Old World bulbous herbs of the lily family with narrow basal leaves and purple, blue, or white racemose flowers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web This flower is similar to scilla, but its blooms are pearly white, often with a faint blue stripe down each petal. —

Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 23 Aug. 2020 The first flower colors have appeared — the white of snowdrops, the yellow of witch hazel, the electric blue of scilla, the purple of the earliest crocuses. —

Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 21 Mar. 2018 The standards here are now scilla, galanthus, tulips, daffodils, muscari and alliums. —

Jeff Lowenfels, Alaska Dispatch News, 15 Sep. 2017 The scilla will continue to grow come hell or high water or hard freeze. —

Bonnie Blodgett, Twin Cities, 11 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scilla.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, genus named by linnaeus that originally included both the squill (Urginea maritima) and plants currently in the genus Scilla, going back to Latin scilla, squilla "the squill Urginea maritima" — more at squill

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of scilla was in 1629

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