sowbread: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low/RareSpecialist, Botanical, Literary, Historical
Quick answer
What does “sowbread” mean?
The common name for plants of the genus Cyclamen, especially the wild species Cyclamen hederifolium.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The common name for plants of the genus Cyclamen, especially the wild species Cyclamen hederifolium.
A perennial woodland plant with heart-shaped leaves and pink, purple, or white flowers with reflexed petals, often cultivated as an ornamental; historically, the tubers were fed to pigs.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally rare in both varieties, but 'cyclamen' is the overwhelmingly preferred term in all contexts.
Connotations
In the UK, 'sowbread' may have a slightly stronger historical or literary flavour. In the US, it is almost exclusively a technical botanical term, if used at all.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects, primarily found in botanical texts, historical gardening books, or etymological discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “sowbread” in a Sentence
[The/Some] sowbread [verb e.g., grows, flowers]Sowbread is a [adjective] plant.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used sparingly in historical botany, plant taxonomy, or etymology papers.
Everyday
Extremely rare; 'cyclamen' is the universal term.
Technical
The primary context; used in botanical field guides, horticulture, and taxonomic literature.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sowbread”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sowbread”
- Mispronouncing 'sow' as /soʊ/ (to plant seeds) instead of /saʊ/ (the animal).
- Spelling as 'sow bread' (two words) when used as the plant name (though historically written as two).
- Assuming it is a type of food for humans.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not food for humans. It is a flowering plant (cyclamen). The name comes from its tubers being eaten by pigs (sows).
It is pronounced like the female pig (/saʊ/), not like the verb meaning 'to plant seeds' (/soʊ/).
In almost all modern contexts, use 'cyclamen'. 'Sowbread' is a historical or specialist botanical term.
No. Cyclamen tubers are toxic to humans and can cause severe digestive upset. They were only historically noted as being consumed by pigs.
The common name for plants of the genus Cyclamen, especially the wild species Cyclamen hederifolium.
Sowbread is usually specialist, botanical, literary, historical in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SOW (female pig) eating BREAD made from the roots of a pretty pink flower.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLANT IS FOOD FOR ANIMALS (The name directly maps the plant's function for pigs onto its identity).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'sowbread' primarily known as today?