A plant of the genus Muscari, especially M. botryoides; a grape hyacinth; (in form Muscari) the genus itself.
Valid publication of the genus name: P. Miller Gardeners Dict.: Abridged (ed. 4, 1754) II..
Origin
Late 16th century; earliest use found in John Gerard (c1545–1612), herbalist. From post-classical Latin muscari, given by Clusius as one of the names by which the plant was known at Constantinople from medieval Greek μόσχαρι, a diminutive formation from Byzantine Greek μόσκος: the flowers have a musk-like odour.