tulipe

tulip

noun tew-LEEP Rare

Origin: From Ottoman Turkish 'tülbend' (turban), via French or Dutch, referring to the flower's shape.

Usage Note

Tulipe entered French via Dutch trade in the 17th century. A verre tulipe is a tulip-shaped glass (wider at the top than the base), used for serving beer or wine. The Netherlands are famous for tulip cultivation, and the speculative bubble known as tulipomanie (tulip mania) struck there in the 1630s.

Examples

"Les tulipes fleurissent au printemps."

Natural Translation

Tulips bloom in spring.

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