squill

noun

ˈskwil 

1

a

: a Mediterranean bulbous herb (Drimia maritima synonym Urginea maritima) of the asparagus family

called also sea onion

compare red squill sense 1

b(1)

: the dried sliced bulb scales of a squill used especially formerly as an expectorant, cardiac stimulant, and diuretic

(2)

: red squill sense 2

2

: scilla

Examples of squill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Use white squill for edging paths or plant in masses under trees and shrubs. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025

Striped squill is a relatively short plant that grows 6-8 inches in height. —Nicole Bradley, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Sep. 2022

Not as common but also popping up in April are marsh marigolds and a few nonnative garden escapees: purple and yellow crocuses, little white snowdrops and purple Siberian squill. —Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2022

Try planting bulbs such as daffodils, ornamental onions, grape hyacinth, fritillaria, snowdrops, winter aconite and Siberian squill that are more resistant to animals. —Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 13 Nov. 2021

Peruvian squill - Scilla peruviana commonly called Portuguese squill, is a spring-blooming bulb with beautiful purple-blue flowers. —Janet Carson, Arkansas Online, 18 Apr. 2021

Visitors can track down flowers throughout the year, like crocus and squill, which bloom in March. —Cameron Walker, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2021

Grape hyacinths, crocus, snowdrops, Siberian squill and bluebells can be grown under deciduous trees. —Jeff Lowenfels, Alaska Dispatch News, 15 Sep. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Middle English squylle, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French squille, esquille, borrowed from Latin scilla, squilla, borrowed from Greek skílla, probably of pre-Greek substratal origin

Note: The extant Latin textual sources apply the spellings scilla and squilla somewhat indiscriminately to both the plant, properly scilla, and to a crustacean, properly squilla (see squilla).

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing squill

• red squill

Rhymes for squill

• bill
• brill
• chill
• drill
• fil
• fill
• frill
• gill
• grill
• grille
• jill
• kill

Medical Definition

squill

noun

ˈskwil 

1

a

: a Mediterranean bulbous herb of the genus Urginea (U. maritima) of the lily family

called also sea onion

b

: any of several other plants of the genus Urginea

c

: the bulbs of a squill (especially U. maritima)

2

a

: the dried sliced bulb of the white-bulbed form of the squill (Urginea maritima) of the Mediterranean region or the dried sliced bulb of a related Asian plant (U. indica) that contains one or more physically active cardiac glycosides and was formerly used as an expectorant, cardiac stimulant, and diuretic see urginea sense 2a compare white squill

b

: red squill sense 2