scion
Pluralscions
- 1A child or later member of a rich, famous, or royal family, often one expected to carry it on.
Like the newest branch growing from an old, well-known tree.
He was the scion of a wealthy banking family.
The young scion took over the business his grandfather had built.
UsageSay the scion of a rich family.
Similarheir, descendant
Oppositeancestor, forebear, progenitor
Note
- 2A small shoot or twig, especially one cut off with its buds to be joined onto another plant.
Like a little branch you fix onto another tree so it can keep growing there.
She cut a scion from the old pear tree for grafting.
Each scion needs a few healthy buds before it will grow.
UsageA scion is grafted onto a rootstock.
Similarcutting, graft, shoot, slip
Oppositerootstock
Note
Practice
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Origin
It came through Old French from an old Germanic word meaning "sprout," going back to a root meaning "to sprout" or "split open."
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- Scion came through Old French from Germanic. en.wiktionary.org
- The Germanic source meant sprout. en.wiktionary.org
- The earlier root meant to sprout or split open. en.wiktionary.org