daffodil Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun any of numerous varieties of Narcissus plants having showy often yellow flowers with a trumpet-shaped central crown
    Narcissus pseudonarcissus.

WordNet

Daf"fo*dil noun
Etymology
OE. affodylle, prop., the asphodel, fr. LL. affodillus (cf. D. affodille or OF. asphodile, aphodille, F. asphodèle), L. asphodelus, fr. Gr. . The initial d in English is not satisfactorily explained. See Asphodel.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) (a) A plant of the genus Asphodelus. (b) A plant of the genus Narcissus (N. Pseudo-narcissus). It has a bulbous root and beautiful flowers, usually of a yellow hue. Called also daffodilly, daffadilly, daffadowndilly, daffydowndilly, etc.
    With damasc roses and daffadowndillies set. Spenser.
    Strow me the ground with daffadowndillies, And cowslips, and kingcups, and loved lilies. Spenser.
    A college gown That clad her like an April Daffodilly. Tennyson
    And chance-sown daffodil. Whittier.

Webster 1913