Mayflower

[ mey-flou-er ]
/ ˈmeɪˌflaʊ ər /

noun

(italics) the ship in which the Pilgrims sailed from Southampton to the New World in 1620.
(lowercase) any of various plants that blossom in May as the hepatica or anemone in the U.S., and the hawthorn or cowslip in England.
(lowercase) the trailing arbutus, Epigaea repens: the state flower of Massachusetts.

Origin of Mayflower

First recorded in 1560–70; May + flower

Example sentences from the Web for mayflower

British Dictionary definitions for mayflower (1 of 2)

mayflower
/ (ˈmeɪˌflaʊə) /

noun

any of various plants that bloom in May
US and Canadian another name for trailing arbutus
British another name for hawthorn, cowslip, marsh marigold

British Dictionary definitions for mayflower (2 of 2)

Mayflower
/ (ˈmeɪˌflaʊə) /

noun

the Mayflower the ship in which the Pilgrim Fathers sailed from Plymouth to Massachusetts in 1620

Cultural definitions for mayflower

Mayflower

The ship that carried the Pilgrims to America. It made a permanent landing near Plymouth Rock in 1620, after the Pilgrims had agreed to the Mayflower Compact.