Sanguinarias

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of plant known for its vivid red sap or flowers, often associated with blood-like appearances
2. A variant of the term used to describe something that is bloody or related to blood
3. A term that can also refer to a person or entity with a disposition that is eager for bloodshed or violence

Etymology: "Sanguinarias" is the plural of "sanguinaria," and the singular is the name of a genus of flowering plants. That genus name comes from Latin "sanguinarius," meaning "of blood" or "bloody," built on "sanguis," blood. The plants were named for the red sap in their roots and stems, which bleeds orange-red when broken, a detail that gave the genus its Latin name. In English use, the plural refers to the members of that genus, most notably the bloodroot, "Sanguinaria canadensis," a woodland wildflower of eastern North America. Its white flowers appear in early spring, and the Latin label on its rhizome is the reason the name stuck to the group.