From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
gladiolus
n 1: any of numerous plants of the genus Gladiolus native chiefly
to tropical and South Africa having sword-shaped leaves
and one-sided spikes of brightly colored funnel-shaped
flowers; widely cultivated [syn: gladiola, {sword
lily}]
2: the large central part of the breastbone [syn: {corpus
sternum}]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Gladiolus \Gla*di"o*lus\, n.; pl. L. Gladioli, E.
Gladioluses. [L. See Gladiole.]
[1913 Webster]
1. (Bot.) A genus of plants having bulbous roots and gladiate
leaves, and including many species, some of which are
cultivated and valued for the beauty of their flowers; the
corn flag; the sword lily.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Anat.) The middle portion of the sternum in some animals;
the mesosternum.
[1913 Webster]