honeysuckle
|hone-y-suck-le|
/ˈhʌniˌsʌkəl/
sweet-smelling climbing flower
Etymology
'honeysuckle' originates from English, specifically the compound 'honey' + 'suckle', where 'honey' ultimately comes from Old English 'hunig' meaning 'honey' and 'suckle' is from Old English roots related to 'sūcan'/'sūcel' meaning 'to suck'.
'honeysuckle' appeared in Middle English in forms such as 'honei-sukul' (and variant spellings) and gradually standardized into the modern English compound 'honeysuckle'.
Initially it literally described a plant whose flowers provided a sweet substance that could be sucked; over time it became the established name for plants of the genus Lonicera and also colloquially for the flower's nectar. The core sense has remained largely stable.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a climbing shrub or vine of the genus Lonicera, bearing fragrant tubular flowers, often producing sweet nectar.
A hedge of honeysuckle wove along the fence, filling the evening air with a sweet scent.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the sweet nectar produced by the flowers of the honeysuckle (colloquial).
When we were kids we used to suck honeysuckle for its sweet nectar.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/07 06:42