hy·a·cinth / ˈhīəˌsin[unvoicedth]/ • n. 1. a bulbous plant (genus Hyacinthus) of the lily family, with straplike leaves and a compact spike of bell-shaped fragrant flowers. ∎  a light purplish-blue color typical of some hyacinth flowers. 2. another term for jacinth.DERIVATIVES: hy·a·cin·thine / ˌhīəˈsin[unvoicedth]in; -ˌ[unvoicedth]īn/ adj.

hyacinth precious stone (cf. JACINTH); plant-name. XVI. — F. hyacinthe — L. hyacinthus — Gr. huákinthos purple or dark-red flower, precious stone.
So hyacinthine XVII. — L. — Gr.

hyacinth the flower of the hyacinth is supposed to have sprung from the blood of Hyacinthus, a beautiful boy whom the god Apollo loved but killed accidentally with a discus. From his blood Apollo caused the hyacinth to spring up.

hyacinth Bulbous plant native to the Mediterranean region and Africa. It has long, thin leaves and spikes of bell-shaped flowers, which may be white, yellow, red, blue, or purple. Family Liliaceae; genus Hyacinthus.