Spring is in the air and I decided to get to the roots of different flowers (yes, I know that’s a bad joke). Let’s explore the word aquilegia, also known as columbine. These beautiful flowers have delicate petals and have a star shape with yellow centers. Some have long spurs that fan out behind the blossom. Aquilegia comes from the Latin root aquil, meaning eagle. It is named this because the flower petals look like an eagle’s claw. The Rocky Mt. Columbine, shown in the picture, has been Colorado’s state flower since 1899. Can you think of any words with the root aquil in them?
Hello,
I’m Tara!
My name is Tara and I am a recent graduate of Duke University, with dual degrees in cultural anthropology and political science, and a minor in linguistics. Twelve years ago, I started this blog to share my love of words with others and teach people about the intricacies of etymology and words across our beloved English language!
Join the linguaphiles!
Stay updated with the latest on language.
the word explorer 
Leave a comment