Daffadilly

/ˌdæfəˈdɪli/ noun

Definition

An archaic or poetic variant spelling of daffodil; a yellow springtime flower with a trumpet-shaped center.

Etymology

An older spelling of daffodil that shows folk-etymological influence, possibly influenced by the word daff (silly), making it sound more whimsical.

Kelly Says

Medieval people heard 'daffodil' and thought it sounded silly, so they called it daffadilly—basically the flower got a funnier name by accident because people's minds playfully reinterpreted the sound!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.