zephyr-flowerhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zephyr-flower_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezephyr flower, n.
Revised 2018

zephyr flowernoun

  1. ?1829–
    a. An anemone, esp. Pulsatilla vernalis; b. [after scientific Latin Zephyranthes, genus name (see zephyranthes n.)] a zephyr lily (also with distinguishing word).
    1. ?1829
      Zephyr's Flower. Anemone, vernalis.
      E. W. Wirt, Flora's Dictionary at Anemone
    2. 1854
      Zephyranthes carinata. Keeled-leaved Zephyr-flower.
      Ornamental Flower Garden & Shrubbery vol. IV. facing Pl. 233
    3. 1884
      Zephyr-flower, the genus Zephyranthes.
      W. Miller, Dictionary of English Names of Plants
    4. 1906
      Anemone (Zephyr Flower) Sickness. Expectation.
      R. Ishikawa, Garland Flower-poems App. p. vii.
    5. 1960
      For bright touches along low borders try the dainty zephyr flower or fairy lily (zephyranthes), whose gay blooms resemble a miniature amaryllis.
      Wichita Falls (Texas) Times 27 March c11/2
    6. 2004
      These are the flower's first links with the emotions of separation and ephemeral love..and with its common name of zephyr flower.
      S. Connolly & J. Baldwin, Secret Lang. Flowers 108

Originally published as part of the entry for zephyr, n.

zephyr, n. was revised in June 2018.