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blue·bell

(blbĕl′) also blue·bells (-bĕlz′)

1. Any of several bulbous plants of the genus Hyacinthoides, native to western Europe and northwest Africa and having racemes of usually blue to pink bell-shaped flowers.

2. Any of various plants of the genus Mertensia, native to Asia, Europe, and North America and having blue, trumpet-shaped flowers.

3. See harebell.

4. Any of several other plants having bluish, usually bell-shaped flowers.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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