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Webster 1913 Edition

Catkin

Cat′kin

(kăt′kĭn)
,
Noun.
[
Cat
+
-kin
.]
(Bot.)
An ament; a species of inflorescence, consisting of a slender axis with many unisexual apetalous flowers along its sides, as in the willow and poplar, and (as to the staminate flowers) in the chestnut, oak, hickory, etc. – so called from its resemblance to a cat’s tail. See Illust. of
Ament
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Catkin

CATKIN

,
Noun.
In botany, a species of calyx or rather of inflorescence, from a common chaffy gemmaceous receptacle, or consisting of many chaffy scales ranged along a stalk, slender as a thread, which is the common receptacle, as in hazle, birch, oak, willow, poplar, &c.; so called from its resemblance to a cats tail.

Definition 2024

catkin

catkin

English

catkin

Noun

catkin ‎(plural catkins)

  1. (botany) A type of inflorescence, consisting of a slender axis with many unisexual apetalous flowers along its sides, as in the willow and poplar.

Coordinate terms

Translations

Etymology

From Middle Dutch katteken ‎(“catkin”, literally “little cat”), equivalent to cat +‎ -kin. Compare German Kätzchen.

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