catkin

Meaning

A type of inflorescence, consisting of an axis with many unisexual apetalous flowers along its sides, as in the willow and poplar.

Synonyms

ament

amentum

bunch

cluster

pussy

😺

tag

willow catkin

Translations

amento

Kätzchen

chaton

amento

👂

gattino

iule

candelilla

ament

ίουλος

katje

ανθήλη

Weidenkätzchen

amentum

Etymology

Cognate with German: Kätzchen

Cognate with Dutch: katje

In summary

From Middle Dutch katteken (“catkin”, literally “little cat”). So named due to the resemblance of lengthier kinds to a kitten's tail, or, perhaps more probably, the fine fur found on some catkins (compare the pictures). Cognate with German Kätzchen, modern Dutch katje. By surface analysis, cat + -kin.