chincherinchee
[ chin-chuh-rin-chee, -rin-chee, ching-kuh- ]
/ ˌtʃɪn tʃə rɪnˈtʃi, -ˈrɪn tʃi, ˌtʃɪŋ kə- /
noun
a bulbous plant, Ornithogalum thyrsoides, of the lily family, native to southern Africa, having dense clusters of cream-colored or white flowers.
Origin of chincherinchee
1925–30; < Afrikaans
tjienkerientjee, perhaps
tjienker- (< ?) +
uintjie name for various edible bulbs (compare
uietjie, diminutive of
ui onion); often alleged to be imitative representation of the sound produced when the stalks are rubbed together
Words nearby chincherinchee
chinbeak,
chinbone,
chincapin,
chinch,
chinch bug,
chincherinchee,
chinchilla,
chinchow,
chinchy,
chincoteague,
chincoteague pony
British Dictionary definitions for chincherinchee
chincherinchee
/ (ˌtʃɪntʃərɪnˈtʃiː, -ˈrɪntʃɪ) /
noun
a bulbous South African liliaceous plant, Ornithogalum thyrsoides, having long spikes of white or yellow long-lasting flowers
Word Origin for chincherinchee
of unknown origin