Syringas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A flowering shrub belonging to the genus Syringa, commonly known for its fragrant and colorful blossoms
2. A member of the olive family prized for ornamental use in gardens and landscapes
3. An attractive plant often found in temperate regions, celebrated for its clusters of small, tubular flowers and lush foliage

Etymology: "Syringas" is the plural of "syringa," the name of the lilac genus, and the plural form simply reflects that a gardener is usually talking about several bushes at once. The botanical name was borrowed from Dutch or Middle Low German, which had taken it from Latin "sȳrinx," and that in turn came from Ancient Greek "σῦριγξ" (sûrinx), meaning "pan pipes" or a reed pipe. The link between a musical instrument and a flowering shrub is not obvious, but it rests on the hollow stems. Lilac branches have a soft, pithy core that can be pushed out, leaving a tube that resembles a pipe, and the same idea of a hollow reed gave the Greek word its sense. The plant's name therefore records a practical observation about its wood rather than any association with its fragrant blossoms.

Synonyms: syringes, injectors, hypodermic syringes, disposable syringes, medical syringes