Gladiolus
/ɡlædˈiːoʊləs/noun
A flowering plant in the iris family with tall spikes of colorful blooms.
Did you know?Gladiolus comes from Latin gladius, “sword,” because its leaves were thought to resemble blades; the same root gave us gladiator, originally a fighter armed with a sword.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
gladiolus
“a small sword; later, the sword-lily plant”
Late Latin
Latin
gladiolus
“the plant name used for its sword-shaped leaves”
Early Modern European botany
Latin
gladiolus
“adopted as a scientific plant name”
Modern English
English
gladiolus
“a cultivated flowering plant with tall spikes of blossoms”