Scion

Scion

ˈsīən

Noun

  • A young shoot or twig of a plant, especially one cut for grafting or rooting.
  • A descendant of a notable family.

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Example Sentences

“The rosebush sprouts many scions in early spring.”

“The Bradford pear had several scions on the lower branches.”

“As the scion of the shipping empire, she was expected to take over the family company one day.”

Word Origin

Old French, early 14th century

Why this word?

This word is from Middle English by way of the Old French “ciun,” meaning “shoot, twig.” The oldest and most common usage is from botany, referring to a young sprout or shoot of a plant, usually used for grafting or rooting. If you wanted to share a cutting of your rosebush with a neighbor, you would gift them a scion of the plant. Another usage of the word relates to nobility: An heir of a prominent family is a scion. The word might still be used today to refer to an especially prestigious family and its children, but it was most common a few hundred years ago.

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