Sunflowers
/ˈsʌnˌflaʊərz/noun
Tall plants of the daisy family with large flower heads, typically yellow and containing edible seeds.
Did you know?Young sunflowers can exhibit heliotropism, turning their leaves and developing heads toward the Sun, though mature flower heads usually face east.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sóh₂wl̥
“Sun; the celestial body and source of daylight”
Old English
Old English
sunne
“The Sun; daylight or sunshine”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰleh₃-
“To bloom or flower”
Latin
Latin
flōs, flōrem
“A flower or blossom”
Old French
Old French
flor / flour
“Flower; blossom”
16th Century
English
sunflower
“A plant named for its sun-like flower head and association with the Sun”
Modern English
English
sunflowers
“Plural of sunflower”