Col|um|bine

col|um|bine ¹ «KOL uhm byn», noun.

a plant whose flowers have petals shaped like hollow spurs. Wild columbines have red-and-yellow or blue-and-white flowers. Columbines are a genus of perennials belonging to the crowfoot family. The Colorado blue columbine is the state flower of Colorado; varieties with red-and-yellow flowers are often found in eastern North America.

╂[< Medieval Latin columbina < Late Latin columbīna vervain, feminine of Latin columbīnus dovelike < columba dove]

col|um|bine² «KOL uhm byn, -bihn», adjective.

1. of or having to do with a dove; like a dove.

2. Obsolete. dove-colored.

╂[< Latin columbīnus dovelike < columba dove]

Col|um|bine «KOL uhm byn», noun.

a female character in traditional Italian comedy and in pantomime, the sweetheart of Harlequin.