gladiool

Dutch

Alternative forms

• gladiolus (dated)

Etymology

From Latin gladiolus, a diminutive form of gladius (“sword”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌɣlaː.diˈoːl/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: gla‧di‧ool
• Rhymes: -oːl

Noun

gladiool f or m (plural gladiolen, diminutive gladiooltje n)

1. Any of several flowering plants, of the genus Gladiolus, having sword-shaped leaves and showy flowers on spikes; gladiolus, gladiola.

   Synonym: zwaardlelie

2. (derogatory) An idiot, fool, nitwit; generally preceded by a pejorative adjective such as achterlijk

Derived terms

• de dood of de gladiolen

References

• Etymologiebank entry