tussie-mussie

• tussy-mussy, tuzzy-muzzy, tuzzie-muzzie, tuzziemuzzie, tuzzymuzzy, tuzzimuzzy

From Scottish Gaelic tùs f (“nice smell, incense”) and debatable second part, a mere reduplication, or mùsg (“musk”) for a moschate flower, or mùisear (“primrose”).

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tussie-mussie (plural tussie-mussies)

1. (historical) A nosegay given by one person to another to convey a message in the language of flowers.
   • 1585, John Higgins, The nomenclator, or remembrancer of Adrianus Iunius physician, diuided in two tomes, conteining proper names and apt termes for all thinges vnder their conuenient titles‎, London: Ralph Newberie and Henrie Denham, page 113b:

     Seruia, Plinio, Sertum è floribus, pastillus è floribus fartus. Vn bouquet. A garland of flowers: a nosegay: a tuzziemuzzie: a sweete posie.

   • 2004, Barbara Pleasant, The Whole Herb: For Cooking, Crafts, Gardening, Health, and Other Joys of Life, Square One Publishers, Inc., →ISBN, page 67:

     Rosemary for remembrance, sage for long life, and roses for love were three positive messages that might have been passed on through a tussie-mussie.

2. (historical, humorous, vulgar, euphemistic) The pudendum muliebre.
   • 1850, William Thomas Moncrieff, “The Tongo Islands, sung by Mr. T.P. Cooke”, in An original collection of Songs, sung at the Theatres Royal, Public Concerts &c., London: John Duncombe, page 108:

     We got as thick as we could be,
     And every night drank strong bohea;
     Says he, ‘You shall be my son-in-law,
     And marry the Princess Washy Taw–’
     Says I, ‘Your majesty, hold your jaw!
     I will accept the Princess Paw—
     With her tuzzy muzzy, hoki poki,
     hunky nunky, roki boki,
     pulka wulka, joki koki,
     All in the Tongo Islands.