jack in the pulpit
jack in the pulpit Lexical Profile
• noun
North American A native North American woodland plant (Arisaema triphyllum) of the arum family, characterized by a unique spring flower consisting of an upright club-shaped spadix partially enclosed by a curved, leafy hood or spathe.
"While hiking through the damp Appalachian woods in early spring, the students spotted a beautiful Jack-in-the-pulpit growing near the stream."
Word Nuance & Usage
Typically hyphenated and capitalized as 'Jack-in-the-pulpit' in formal botanical or literary writing. Its plural can be formed either as 'jacks-in-the-pulpit' or 'jack-in-the-pulpits'.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in North America in the late 19th century, derived from the plant's unique appearance: the upright, club-like spadix resembles a preacher ('Jack') standing inside the canopy of a hooded spathe ('the pulpit').