Larkspur
/ˈlɑːrk.spɜːr/noun
A flowering plant of the buttercup family with tall spikes of blue, purple, pink, or white flowers.
Did you know?Larkspur was named for the flower’s long, pointed nectar spur, which early English speakers thought looked like a lark’s claw or spur rather than anything mystical.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
spearwa
“sparrow”
Middle English
ME
larkes spure
“lark’s spur; a plant name based on the flower’s pointed spur”
16th Century
English
larkes spurre
“the flowering plant, especially delphinium”
Modern English
English
larkspur
“a delphinium or related flowering plant with a spur-like blossom”