any of several plants belonging to the genus Dicentra, of the fumitory family, having long clusters of drooping flowers, as the Dutchman's-breeches or the bleeding heart.
Origin: 1833; < NL < Gk díkentr(os) with two stings or spurs, equiv. to di-di-1+ -kentros, deriv. of kéntron a spur, point, sting (deriv. of kenteîn to prick, sting) + L -a-a2