from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Peony \Pe"o*ny\ (p[=e]"[-o]*n[y^]), n.; pl. {Peonies}
(p[=e]"[-o]*n[i^]z). [OE. pione, pioine, pioni, OF. pione, F.
pivoine, L. paeonia, Gr. paiwni`a, fr. Pai`wn, Paia`n, the
god of healing. Cf. {P[ae]an}.] (Bot.)
A plant, and its flower, of the ranunculaceous genus
{P[ae]onia}. Of the four or five species, one is a shrub; the
rest are perennial herbs with showy flowers, often double in
cultivation. [Written also {p[ae]ony}, and {piony}.]
[1913 Webster]