elderflower

Etymology

From elder + flower.

Why this word is great

ELDERFLOWER — [Noun] The delicate, cream-colored blossom of the elderberry tree, most commonly the European Sambucus nigra, prized for its fragrant, citrusy sweetness. From the Old English ellærn ("elder tree") and blōstm ("blossom"), it is a word that carries the weight of hedgerows and late spring. Unlike "chamomile" (which belongs to the daisy family and steeps into sleepy teas) or "lilac" (which blooms ornamental and untouched), elderflower is both wild and useful, gathered for cordials, syrups, and fritters. It is the scent of sun-warmed petals shaken loose into a basket, the golden syrup drizzled over ice, the way a single blossom pressed between pages can summon a whole June afternoon—proof that some fleeting things, once captured, outlast the season.

noun

  1. The blossom of the elderberry, often specifically the European species Sambucus nigra“Ethel was yet bathing her eyes with elderflowers, preparatory to going, when her departure was again delayed by another visitor.”