chelone

1 of 2

noun

che·​lo·​ne
keˈlōnē
1
capitalized : a small genus of perennial herbs (family Scrophulariaceae) of the eastern U.S. having serrate leaves and large white or purple flowers in nearly sessile spikes
2
plural -s : any plant of the genus Chelone

called also turtlehead

Chelone

2 of 2
"

taxonomic synonym of chelonia:2

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from New Latin (Linnaeus), borrowed from Greek chelṓnē "tortoise, land turtle," derivative from a base chel-y- (whence chélȳs "tortoise"), perhaps going back to Indo-European *gheluH- or *ghelH-u-, whence Church Slavic (eastern) žely, genitive želŭve "tortoise," Polish żółw, Slovene žêlva

borrowed from New Latin, borrowed from Greek chelṓnē "tortoise, land turtle"

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near chelone

Cite this Entry

“Chelone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chelone. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!