squirrel corn
- noun
- /ˈskwɜrəl kɔrn/
- US
:
maíz de ardilla
- The forest floor was dotted with blooming squirrel corn in early spring.
Examples
-
Hikers often admire the delicate flowers of squirrel corn alongside other wildflowers.
-
She studied the curious roots of the squirrel corn during her botany class.
-
I found some squirrel corn growing in the woods.
-
The squirrel corn blooms beautifully in early spring.
-
The forest floor was dotted with blooming squirrel corn in early spring.
-
Hikers often admire the delicate flowers of squirrel corn alongside other wildflowers.
-
She studied the curious roots of the squirrel corn during her botany class.
Synonyms
A woodland plant with pale cream flowers and thick roots shaped like corn kernels
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound links 'squirrel' and 'corn' in a way that evokes corn-like kernels associated with squirrels, so parts of the meaning (kernel-like appearance or an association with squirrels) are inferable from the constituents. However, the specific reference—to a particular woodland plant whose small yellow tuber-like roots resemble corn kernels—is an idiosyncratic botanical name that a B1 learner would not reliably derive from the words alone.
Etymology
Squirrel corn is named for the plant's small yellow underground roots that look like corn kernels. People saw squirrels digging up or eating those little 'kernels', so the name links squirrel and corn and now means this spring woodland 'plant'.
