When:
Lookups spiked on December 11, 2012.
Why:
People are hearing and seeing the word a lot these days. Like holly and Christmas trees, poinsettias are a traditional sign of the holiday season.
A poinsettia is "a plant with large red, pink, or white leaves that look like petals" and is native to Mexico and Central America.
Poinsettia is an eponym – a word derived from someone's name. (Other plants derived from names are begonia, fuchsia, and narcissus). The American diplomat Joel Roberts Poinsett was stationed in Mexico, and brought the plant to the U.S. in 1825.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
