Antirrhinon

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A flowering plant known for its distinctively shaped blossoms that resemble a dragon's mouth, often found in gardens
2. A member of the snapdragon family, characterized by tubular flowers that can be squeezed to resemble a snapping action
3. A perennial or annual herbaceous plant valued for its ornamental flowers that attract pollinators and add color to landscapes

Etymology: Antirrhinum, the snapdragon, takes its name from Greek "antirrhinon," which combines "anti," meaning "against" or "like," with "rhis," meaning "nose" (the genitive is "rhinos"). The name refers to the flower's blossom, which looks like a snout or muzzle, and the Greek naturalists who first described the plant seem to have had in mind the bloom's resemblance to an animal's face rather than a dragon's mouth. The Greek noun "rhis" is the root behind English "rhinoceros," literally "nose-horn," and "rhinitis," an inflammation of the nasal passages. The "anti-" prefix in the Greek compound is usually read as "like" here, so the flower is "nose-like," a sense that fits the snout-shaped corolla. The English name "snapdragon" is a later, native coinage. It alludes to the way the closed flower opens when its sides are squeezed, which makes the mouth snap, and it was in use in English by the 1500s. The Latin botanical name "Antirrhinum" was adopted by Linnaeus in the 18th century and remains the scientific name today.