pansy
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Purple pansy
See also: Pansy
English
Etymology
From Middle French pensée (“thought”), as the plant resembles someone that is in deep thought, with a lowered head. Doublet of pensée.
Pronunciation
Noun
pansy (plural pansies)
- A cultivated flowering plant, derived by hybridization within species Viola tricolor.
- 1697, Virgil, “The Second Pastoral. Or, Alexis.”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. , London: Jacob Tonson, , →OCLC, page 6:
- The Daughters of the Flood have ſearch'd the Mead / For Violets pale, and cropt the Poppy's Head: / The Short Narciſſus and fair Daffodil, / Pancies to pleaſe the Sight, and Caſſia ſvveet to ſmell: […]
- 1920, Katherine Mansfield [pseudonym; Kathleen Mansfield Murry], “Revelations”, in Bliss and Other Stories, London: Constable & Company, published 1920, →OCLC, page 271:
- Oh, what a perfect thought. Lilies-of-the-valley, and white pansies, double white violets and white velvet ribbon… From an unknown friend. … From one who understands. … For a Little Girl.
- A deep purple colour, like that of the pansy.
- pansy:
- Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Junonia.
- Synonym: argus
- (derogatory, colloquial) A timid, weak man or boy; a wuss.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:milksop
- (derogatory, colloquial, dated) A male homosexual, especially one who is effeminate.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:male homosexual, Thesaurus:effeminate man
Alternative forms
- pancy (obsolete)
Derived terms
Translations
plant
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colour
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informal:coward or weak person
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Adjective
pansy (not comparable)
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
colour
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Verb
pansy (third-person singular simple present pansies, present participle pansying, simple past and past participle pansied)
- (slang, intransitive, usually with "around" or "about") To mess about; to fail to get things done.
See also
Further reading
- Jonathon Green (2024) “pansy n.”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang
- Jonathon Green (2024) “pansy adj.”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang