Also 6–7 iunquilia, 7–8 junquil(l, 8 jonquille, Sc. jonckeel. [ad. mod.L. jonquilla = F. jonquille, It. gionchiglia, or Sp. junquillo, dim. of junco, L. juncus rush; so called from the rush-like leaves. Walker pronounces junkwill; so all the poets down to Wordsworth; Smart 1836 has jung′kwil.]
1. A species of Narcissus (N. Jonquilla), having long linear leaves and spikes of fragrant white and yellow flowers; the rush-leaved Daffodil.
Hence extended to allied species, as Large J., Narcissus odorus; Small J., N. pusillus; Queen Anne’s J., N. pusillus plenus.
1629. Parkinson, Parad., ix. 90. The great Junquilia with the large flower or cup.
1633. Johnson, Gerarde’s Herbal, I. lxxxiv. § 17. 129. There is also another Rush Daffodil or Iunquilia.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 198. March … Flowers in Prime or yet lasting. Junquills. Ibid. (1696), Corr., 28 Oct. (1871), 725. Beds of Tulips, Carnations,… Jonquills, Ranunculas.
1699. Garth, Dispens., VI. 70. And hence Junquils derive their fragrant Dew.
1713. C’tess Winchilsea, Misc. Poems, 90. Now the Jonquille o’ercomes the feeble Brain.
1730. Swift, Panegyr. on Dean. The crocus and the daffodil, The cowslip soft, and sweet jonquil.
1819. Wordsw., Sonn. to Snowdrop. This border thickly set With bright jonquils.
1821. Shelley, Epipsych., 450. And from the moss violets and jonquils peep.
1882. Garden, 18 March, 182/1. A sheaf of slender Jonquils.
2. A pale yellow color like that of the jonquil. [F. jonquille.]
1791. Hamilton, Berthollet’s Dyeing, I. I. I. iv. 67. The silk assumed a fine jonquille yellow.
1816. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 543.
1851. Illustr. Catal. Gt. Exhib., 498. Jonquil, apricot, and cerulean blue … corded poplin.
3. A canary-bird of jonquil color. Abbreviated jonque.
1865. Derby Mercury, 25 Jan., 2/5. The goldfinch mules were exceedingly good, the first prize in jonques being given to a choice specimen.
1891. C. L. Morgan, Anim. Life & Intell., 225. It does not answer to pair two jonquils.
