Geranium
/dʒəˈreɪ.ni.əm/noun
A flowering plant in the geranium family, or more broadly any plant in the genus Geranium.
Did you know?The name comes from Greek geranos, meaning “crane,” because the fruiting head was compared to a crane’s beak—proof that even plant names can hide old symbolic sightings.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
geranos
“crane”
Late Latin
Latin
geranium
“cranesbill; the plant named for its crane-like fruit”
16th Century
Latin
Geranium
“the botanical name adopted for the genus”
Modern English
English
geranium
“a garden plant with showy flowers, especially in the genus Geranium or Pelargonium in common usage”