Hyacinth

[hahy-uh-sinth] /ˈhaɪ ə sɪnθ/

noun
1.
a bulbous plant, Hyacinthus orientalis, of the lily family, widely cultivated for its cylindrical cluster of fragrant flowers in a variety of colors.
2.
any of various similar or related plants, as the or the .
3.
a plant fabled to have sprung from the blood of Hyacinthus and variously identified as iris, gladiolus, larkspur, etc.
4.
Mineralogy. a reddish-orange zircon.
5.
a gem of the ancients, held to be the amethyst or sapphire.
[hahy-uh-sinth] /ˈhaɪ ə sɪnθ/
noun
1.
a female given name.
/ˈhaɪəsɪnθ/
noun
1.
any liliaceous plant of the Mediterranean genus Hyacinthus, esp any cultivated variety of H. orientalis, having a thick flower stalk bearing white, blue, or pink fragrant flowers
2.
the flower or bulb of such a plant
3.
any similar or related plant, such as the grape hyacinth
4.
Also called jacinth. a red or reddish-brown transparent variety of the mineral zircon, used as a gemstone
5.
(Greek myth) a flower which sprang from the blood of the dead Hyacinthus
6.

n.

1550s, “the plant hyacinth;” re-Greeked from earlier jacinth (late 14c.) “hyacinth; blue cornflower,” earlier a precious stone blue (rarely red) in color (c.1200), from Old French jacinte and Medieval Latin jacintus, ultimately from Greek hyakinthos, probably ultimately from a non-Indo-European Mediterranean language. Used in ancient Greece of a blue gem, perhaps sapphire, and of a purple or deep red flower, but exactly which one is unknown (gladiolus, iris, and larkspur have been suggested). Fabled to have sprouted from the blood of Hyakinthos, youth beloved by Apollo and accidentally slain by him. The flower is said to have the letters “AI” or “AIAI” on its petals. The modern use in reference to a particular flowering plant genus is from 1570s.