Flieder
German edit
Etymology edit
Ca. 1600, from Middle Low German vlêder, vlider (“elder”), itself probably from Middle Dutch vlieder, ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *fleuþr. Cognate with modern Dutch vlier, West Frisian flear.
At first merely a northern synonym of Holunder (“elder”); then in the 18th century transferred to the somewhat similar-looking lilac, which is of southeastern European origin and thus had no German name.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
Flieder m (strong, genitive Flieders, plural Flieder)
- lilac (shrub of the genus Syringa)
- (regional, parts of Northern Germany) black elder (shrub)
- Synonyms: Holunder, Schwarzer Holunder
Declension edit
Declension of Flieder [masculine, strong]
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Related terms edit
Further reading edit
- “Flieder” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
- “Flieder” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.
- “Flieder” in Duden online