Word Study
Pimpernel
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun Pimpernel has 2 senses
- pimpernel(n = noun.plant) burnet bloodwort, poterium sanguisorba, salad burnet - European garden herb with purple-tinged flowers and leaves that are sometimes used for salads; Array has parts: salad burnet
- pimpernel(n = noun.plant) Array - any of several plants of the genus Anagallis; Array is a member of anagallis, genus anagallis
is a kind of herb, herbaceous plant
is a member of genus poterium, poterium
has particulars: anagallis arvensis, poor man's weatherglass, red pimpernel, scarlet pimpernel, anagallis tenella, bog pimpernel
is a kind of herb, herbaceous plant
CIDE DICTIONARY
Pimpernel, n. [F. pimprenelle; cf. Sp. pimpinela, It. pimpinella; perh. from LL. bipinnella, for bipinnula two-winged, equiv. to L. bipennis; bis twice + penna feather, wing. Cf. Pen a feather.].
A plant of the genus Anagallis , of which one species (Anagallis arvensis ) has small flowers, usually scarlet, but sometimes purple, blue, or white, which speedily close at the approach of bad weather. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Pimpernel, n. any plant of the genus Anagallis, esp. = scarlet pimpernel.
Etymology
ME f. OF pimpernelle, piprenelle ult. f. L piper PEPPER
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