Word Study
turnsole
CIDE DICTIONARY
turnsole, n. [F. tournesol, It. tornasole; tornare to turn (LL. tornare) + sole the sun, L. sol. See Turn, Solar, a. , and cf. Heliotrope.].
- A plant of the genus
Heliotropium ; heliotrope; -- so named because its flowers are supposed to turn toward the sun. [1913 Webster] - Litmus. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
turnsole, n. any of various plants supposed to turn with the sun.
Etymology
OF tournesole f. Prov. tournasol f. L tornare TURN + sol sun
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