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Glite Dictionary
bird-on-the-wing

bird-on-the-wing

9.9
A small forest plant with leaves like wintergreen and pink-purple flowers
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : pájaro en el ala
  • Hikers admired the rosy-purple flowers of the bird-on-the-wing carpeting the forest floor.

Examples

  • The leaves of bird-on-the-wing resemble those of wintergreen, making it easy to identify.

  • In the shaded woods, clusters of bird-on-the-wing bloomed throughout the spring.

  • The bird-on-the-wing blooms beautifully in spring.

  • Have you seen a bird-on-the-wing in the garden?

  • Hikers admired the rosy-purple flowers of the bird-on-the-wing carpeting the forest floor.

  • In the shaded woods, clusters of bird-on-the-wing bloomed throughout the spring.

  • The leaves of bird-on-the-wing resemble those of wintergreen, making it easy to identify.

Synonyms

Polygala paucifolia
vsbird-on-the-wing
  • Specialized
9.9

A low eastern North American plant with leaves like wintergreen and rosy-purple flowers with wing-like parts

is the common descriptive name rather than the strict botanical label
fringed polygala
vsbird-on-the-wing
  • Specialized
9.9

A small flowering plant from eastern North America with pink-purple flowers and leaves like wintergreen

is the general descriptive term focusing on overall appearance
gaywings
vsbird-on-the-wing
  • US
9.9

A small wild plant with rosy-purple flowers and shiny green leaves that grows in shady moist woods

is a more neutral botanical description rather than a casual name
flowering wintergreen
vsbird-on-the-wing
  • US
9.1

A low plant from eastern North America with rosy purple flowers and shiny green leaves

is the species-specific botanical label rather than a leaf-based name

Surface Forms

bird-on-the-wing singular
bird-on-the-wings plural

Morphology

bird-on-the-wing = bird + the + wing (opaque) = on + bird + the + wing

The phrase 'bird on the wing' is literally interpretable as a bird in flight and is compositionally clear. [Postprocessing: moved 'on' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

Bird-on-the-wing comes from a simple picture: the little flower looks like a small bird with open wings, so people called it 'bird on the wing'. The name helps you remember this trailing rosy-purple wildflower by its bird-like shape.