Lotus

1. either of two large water lilies.
2. a plant whose fruit induced a dreamy forgetfulness and an unwillingness to leave.
3. the flower of the sacred lotus as a symbol in Asian art and religion.

   a myth of creation states that Buddha was born of a thousand-petalled gold lotus

4. short for lotus position.

late 15th century (denoting a type of clover or trefoil, described by Homer as food for horses): via Latin from Greek lōtos, of Semitic origin. The term was used by classical writers to denote various trees and plants; the legendary plant (lotus (sense 2)), mentioned by Homer, was thought by later Greek writers to be Ziziphus lotus, a relative of the jujube.