Orchidery

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A greenhouse or garden devoted to the growing and care of orchid plants
2. An establishment or section of a garden where orchids are propagated and maintained
3. A facility or enclosed space specifically designed for the cultivation and display of orchids

Etymology: The root of "orchidery" is a Greek word for testicle. "Orkhis" was the name ancient Greek writers gave to plants with paired tubers that looked like testicles, and the name was later applied to the orchid family. The flowers themselves were named for those underground tubers, not for the blossoms. English built "orchid" from the Latin "orchis" and then added the suffix "-ery," which comes from Old French "-erie." The suffix marks a place or a practice, so "orchidery" can mean a place where orchids are grown or kept, or the collecting and cultivation of orchids as a pursuit. The same suffix appears in "nursery," "bakery," and "greenery," and "orchidery" follows that pattern exactly.

Synonyms: orchid house, orchidarium