WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Or"chis
Part of Speech : n.;
Etymology : [L., fr. Gr.
Definition : 1. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of endogenous plants growing in the North Temperate zone, and consisting of about eighty species. They are perennial herbs growing from a tuber (beside which is usually found the last year's tuber also), and are valued for their showy flowers. See Orchidaceous.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the same family with the orchis; an orchid.

Note: The common names, such as bee orchis, fly orchis, butterfly orchis, etc., allude to the peculiar form of the flower.

pl. Orchises.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913