narciss

English

Etymology

From Latin narcissus or French narcisse.

Noun

narciss (plural narcisses)

1. (obsolete) Narcissus.
   • 1586, William Webbe, “A Discourse of English Poetrie”, in Joseph Haslewood, editor, Ancient Critical Essays upon English Poets and Poësy, volume II, London: […] T. Bensley, […], published 1815, page 76:

     Come hyther O thou sweete face boy: see see, to thy selfe heere / How fayre Nymphes in baskets full doo bring manie Lillies: / White violets sweete Nais plucks and bloomes fro the Poppies, / Narcyss, and dyll flowres most sweete that sauoureth also.

   • 1660 [i.e., 1659], Robert Sharrock, The History of the Propagation & Improvement of Vegetables by the Concurrence of Art and Nature: […], Oxford: […] A. Lichfield, […], page 80:

     Nor are all taken at the ſame time, as he ſeems to intimate; for Narciſſes and Crocuſſes are commonly taken up firſt, generally when the flower is gone, the leaf withered, and the Bulb full, it is the beſt ſeaſon to take them up; […]

   • 1825, William Hone, The Every-Day Book; or, The Guide to the Year: Relating the Popular Amusements, Sports, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs, and Events, Incident to the 365 Days in Past and Present Times; […], London: […] William Hone, […], page 485:

     Musk Narcisse. Narcissus moschatus.

   • 1838 February, William Scott, “Meleager’s Garland”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume XLIII, number CCLXVIII, Edinburgh: William Blackwood & Sons; London: T. Cadell, […], pages 255–256:

     Dear Muse, for whom twin’st thou this vocal wreath? / For whom this garland gay of flowers that breathe? / These Meleager culled—to friendship due / Diocles won these flowers of various hue. / Thy lilies Anyte,—and loved Myro’s / Fair buds—and Sappho’s scant but blooming rose— / The rich narciss of Melanippides— / The vine’s young shoot from green Simonides— / Thine iris, Nossis, on whose cup are shed / Sweet-breathing scents, and love’s own perfume spread— / And Rian’s buds, with marjoram soft imbued— / Erinna’s crocus white and virgin-hued, / Alcæus, speaking hyacinths he weaves, / Samius his laurel’s bright and sable leaves.

   • 1880 May 22, Shirley Hibberd, “Daffodil and Affodil”, in Notes and Queries: A Medium of Intercommunication for Literary Men, General Readers, Etc., sixth series, volume first, London: […] John Francis, pages 412–413:

     In other sections of the narciss family yellow is the predominant colour. […] This term is never applied to a narciss.

   • 1910, Annual Report of the Department of Agriculture of the Province of Prince Edward Island, page 34:

     Many hundreds of the choicest varieties of tulips, narcisses and crocuses, with squills and other bulbs, sent up their delicate flowers during the early spring.