An archaic term for a plant, possibly referring to columbine or a related flowering plant with eagle-like petals.
Likely from Latin 'aquila' (eagle) and possibly 'legere' (to gather), or directly influenced by French plant naming; the term appears in older botanical texts but fell out of common use.
The confusion between 'aquilege,' 'aquilegia,' and plant names shows how botanical naming evolved—early naturalists were describing what they saw, and 'eagle' kept showing up in their words because the flowers reminded them of bird parts!
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