1.
[syn: canarybird flower, canarybird vine, canary creeper, Tropaeolum peregrinum]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Nasturtium \Nas*tur"tium\, n. [L. nasturtium, for nasitortium,
fr. nasus nose + torquere, tortum, to twist, torture, in
allusion to the causing one to make a wry face by its pungent
taste. See Nose of the face, and Torture.]
1. (Bot.) A genus of cruciferous plants, having white or
yellowish flowers, including several species of cress.
They are found chiefly in wet or damp grounds, and have a
pungent biting taste.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Tropaeolum, geraniaceous
herbs, having mostly climbing stems, peltate leaves, and
spurred flowers, and including the common Indian cress
(Tropaeolum majus), the canary-bird flower (Tropaeolum
peregrinum), and about thirty more species, all natives
of South America. The whole plant has a warm pungent
flavor, and the fleshy fruits are used as a substitute for
capers, while the leaves and flowers are sometimes used in
salads.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Canary bird \Ca*na"ry bird`\ (Zool.)
A small singing bird of the Finch family (Serinus
Canarius), a native of the Canary Islands. It was brought to
Europe in the 16th century, and made a household pet. It
generally has a yellowish body with the wings and tail
greenish, but in its wild state it is more frequently of gray
or brown color. It is sometimes called canary finch.
[1913 Webster]
Canary bird flower (Bot.), a climbing plant (Trop[ae]olum
peregrinum) with canary-colored flowers of peculiar form;
-- called also canary vine.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Tropaeolum peregrinum
n 1: a climber having flowers that are the color of canaries
[syn: canarybird flower, canarybird vine, canary
creeper, Tropaeolum peregrinum]