a climbing plant with white, yellow or pink flowers with a sweet smell Topics Plants and treesc2忍冬,金银花(蔓生,开白色、黄色或粉红色花,气味芬芳) Word OriginMiddle English honysoukil, extension of honysouke, from Old English hunigsūce (see honey, suck). It originally denoted tubular flowers, such as the red clover, which are sucked for their nectar.