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chincherinchee - 2 dictionary results
chin⋅che⋅rin⋅chee
[chin-chuh-rin-chee, -rin-chee, ching-kuh-] 
–noun
| a bulbous plant, Ornithogalum thyrsoides, of the lily family, native to southern Africa, having dense clusters of cream-colored or white flowers. |
Origin:
1925–30; < Afrik tjienkerientjee, perh. tjienker- (< ?) + uintjie name for various edible bulbs (cf. uietjie, dim. of ui onion); often alleged to be imit. representation of the sound produced when the stalks are rubbed together
1925–30; < Afrik tjienkerientjee, perh. tjienker- (< ?) + uintjie name for various edible bulbs (cf. uietjie, dim. of ui onion); often alleged to be imit. representation of the sound produced when the stalks are rubbed together
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source
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Link To chincherinchee
| chin·che·rin·chee (chĭn'chə-rĭn-chē', chĭng'kə-) n. A southern African bulbous plant (Ornithogalum thyrsoides) in the lily family, whose fragrant cluster of showy white blossoms is popular as a cut flower. [Afrikaans tjienkerientjee : tjienker-, imitative of a tinkling sound (from the sound the stems make when rubbed together) + uintjie, bulb, diminutive of ui, onion (from Middle Dutch uyen, ultimately from Latin uniō, a kind of onion).] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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