Chionanthus
/ˌkaɪəˈnænθəs/noun
A genus of flowering plants in the olive family, Oleaceae, commonly called fringe trees.
Did you know?Carl Linnaeus named Chionanthus from Greek words for “snow” and “flower,” likely referring to its striking white, fringe-like blooms.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sneygʷʰ-
“To snow or become snowy; the ancestral root behind Greek khiōn and English snow.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
χιών (khiōn)
“Snow.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἄνθος (anthos)
“Flower or blossom.”
1753
Botanical Latin
Chionanthus
“A plant genus name formed from Greek khiōn, “snow,” and anthos, “flower.””
Modern English
English
chionanthus
“A fringe-tree genus of flowering plants in the olive family.”