mayflower

Everyday

1. The Mayflower was the ship that carried English settlers, now called the Pilgrims, across the Atlantic from Plymouth in England to America, where they started Plymouth Colony. tree →
2. A mayflower is any of several plants that flower in spring, especially hawthorn in Britain and the trailing arbutus in North America. tree →
3. The mayflower is the floral symbol of Nova Scotia in Canada and of Massachusetts in the USA. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons in the USA and UK, the Mayflower voyage is linked with the first Thanksgiving story, which is now taught alongside the history of the Wampanoag people who already lived there. In nature, «May flower» or hawthorn blossom is a sign of late spring. Common phrases: «the Mayflower», «the Mayflower Pilgrims», «the Mayflower Compact».

Examples

• The Mayflower sailed from Plymouth, England. tree →
• About one hundred passengers crossed the ocean on the Mayflower. tree →
• The Pilgrims on the Mayflower landed in what is now Massachusetts. tree →
• The Wampanoag people helped the settlers after the Mayflower arrived. tree →
• The mayflower is the provincial flower of Nova Scotia. tree →
• The hedges were white with mayflower blossom. tree →
• We made a model of the Mayflower in class. tree →

Note

The ship's name has a capital M: the Mayflower. As a plant name it is usually lower case. Plural (plants): mayflowers.