Petal
/ˈpɛt.əl/noun
The colorful part of a flower that attracts pollinators.
Did you know?The term 'petal' comes from a word meaning 'fallen leaf', hinting at the delicate, transient beauty of flowers as they bloom and fade.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pēd-
“to spread out, to fall”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πέταλον (pétalon)
“a leaf or petal of a flower”
Latin
Latin
petalum
“a leaf of a flower, a petal”
Old French
Old French
petal
“the leaf of a flower”
Middle English
Middle English
petal
“a flower leaf or segment”
Modern English
English
petal
“the colorful segment of a flower, often used for decorative purposes.”
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