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Definition of snake's head fritillary
snake's head fritillary
Plural:snake's head fritillaries
snake's head fritillary Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A bulbous perennial plant (Fritillaria meleagris) of the lily family, native to damp meadows and floodplains in Europe, famous for its nodding, bell-shaped flowers that feature a distinctive tessellated or checkered pattern of purple, pink, or white.
Example
"Every spring, the ancient meadow comes alive with thousands of delicate blooms of the snake's head fritillary."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name 'snake's head' refers to the unexpanded flower buds which resemble the head of a snake about to strike, while 'fritillary' derives from the Latin 'fritillus', meaning a dice-box, alluding to the distinct checkerboard pattern on the petals.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Snake's head fritillary. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/snake's head fritillary