Eg'lan-tine, n.

(-tĭn, or -tīn) (Synop., § 130), n. [Fr. églantine, for aiglantine, Pr. aiglentine, from O. Fr. aiglent, Pr. aiglen, brier, hip tree, from Fr. aiguille, Pr. aguilla, needle, with suffix -ent; Lat. as if aculentus, prickly, from acus, a needle or pin.] (Bot.) A species of rose; the sweet-brier (Rosa rubiginosa).

☞ “Milton has distinguished the sweet-brier and the eglantine. Through the sweet-brier, or the vine, Or the twisted eglantine. L’Allegro, v. 47.

Eglantine has sometimes been erroneously taken for the honeysuckle, and it seems more than probable that Milton so understood it, by his calling it ‘twisted.’ If not, he must have meant the wild rose.” Nares.