Hy"a*cinth (?), n. [L. hyacinthus a kind of flower, prob. the iris, gladiolus, or larkspur, also a kind of gem, perh. the sapphire; as, a proper name, Hyacinthus, a beautiful Laconian youth, beloved by Apollo, fr. Gr. , : cf. F. hyacinthe. Cf. Jacinth. The hyacinth was fabled to have sprung from the blood of Hyacinthus, who was accidentally slain by Apollo.]
1. Bot. (a)
A bulbous plant of the genus Hyacinthus, bearing beautiful spikes of fragrant flowers. H. orientalis is a common variety.
(b)
A plant of the genus Camassia (C. Farseri), called also Eastern camass; wild hyacinth.
(c)
The name also given to Scilla Peruviana, a Mediterranean plant, one variety of which produces white, and another blue, flowers; -- called also, from a mistake as to its origin, Hyacinth of Peru.
2. Min.
A red variety of zircon, sometimes used as a gem. See Zircon.
Hyacinth bean Bot., a climbing leguminous plant (Dolichos Lablab), related to the true bean. It has dark purple flowers and fruit.
© Webster 1913.