There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun zephyr flower . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
The earliest known use of the noun zephyr flower is in the 1820s.
OED's earliest evidence for zephyr flower is from around 1829, in a dictionary by E. W. Wirt.
Nearby entries zeolitize, v. 1881– zeolitized, adj. 1888– Zephiran, n. 1935– Zéphirine Drouhin, n. 1901– zephyr, n. Old English– zephyr, v. 1829– zephyranth, n. 1845– zephyranthes, n. 1821– zephyrean, adj. 1793– zephyret, n. 1777–1881 zephyr flower, n. ?1829– zephyr-gale, n. 1596–1901 zephyrian, adj. 1661– zephyrine, adj. & n. 1819– zephyring, adj. 1821– zephyrless, adj. a1821– zephyr-like, adv. & adj. 1765– zephyr lily, n. ?1877– zephyrous, adj. a1750– zephyry, adj. 1791– Zepp, n. 1914–
?1829–
a. An anemone, esp. Pulsatilla vernalis ; b. [after scientific Latin Zephyranthes , genus name (see zephyranthes n. )] a zephyr lily (also with distinguishing word). ?1829
Zephyr's Flower . Anemone, vernalis. E. W. Wirt , Flora's Dictionary at Anemone
1854
Zephyranthes carinata. Keeled-leaved Zephyr-flower . Ornamental Flower Garden & Shrubbery vol. IV. facing Pl. 233
1884
Zephyr-flower , the genus Zephyranthes . W. Miller , Dictionary of English Names of Plants
1906
Anemone (Zephyr Flower ) Sickness. Expectation. R. Ishikawa , Garland Flower-poems App. p. vii.
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 c 11/2
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
▶ more ▼ less a. An anemone, esp. Pulsatilla vernalis ; b. a zephyr lily (also with distinguishing word).
Any of various plants of the genus Zephyranthes ; a zephyr lily. Cf. zephyranthes , n.
‘The atamasco-lily, Zephyranthes Atamasco : so called as supposed to cause staggers in horses’ (Cent. Dict. 1891).
Originally published as part of the entry for zephyr, n.
zephyr, n. was revised in June 2018.
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