pansy

¹

[ pan-zee ]

noun

, plural pan·sies.

1. a violet, Viola tricolor hortensis, cultivated in many varieties, having richly and variously colored flowers.
2. the flower of this plant.
3. Slang.
   1. Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a gay man.
   2. Offensive. a weak, effeminate, and often cowardly man.

Pansy

²

[ pan-zee ]

noun

1. a female given name.

pansy

/ ˈpænzɪ /

noun

1. any violaceous garden plant that is a variety of Viola tricolor, having flowers with rounded velvety petals, white, yellow, or purple in colour See also wild pansy
2. slang.
   an effeminate or homosexual man or boy
3. 1. a strong violet colour
   2. ( as adjective )

      a pansy carpet

Word History and Origins

Origin of pansy¹

First recorded in 1490–1500, and in 1930–35 pansy fordef 3; from Middle French pensée “pansy,” literally, “thought,” noun use of feminine of past participle of penser “to think,” from Latin pēnsāre “to weigh, consider”; pensive

Word History and Origins

Origin of pansy¹

C15: from Old French pensée thought, from penser to think, from Latin pensāre

Example Sentences

I planted a few pansies and tidied up the bathrooms; when it began raining, I dealt with some leaks.

From Los Angeles Times

Add cold-season plantings like primroses, pansies, heather and cyclamen to pots and window boxes.

From Seattle Times

In outdoor pots, red dogwood stems and evergreen boughs bring structure, while violas, pansies and ornamental kale add unflinching color, shrugging off light frosts.

From Seattle Times

For gardeners itching to get started, pansies are readily available in winter and are easy to press, and hold their colors beautifully.

From Seattle Times

The shrub, tree and perennial sections of the nursery offer plenty of alternatives to the usual winter pansies and those bulky, rigid cabbages.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• mama's boy
• milksop
• pantywaist
• sissy
• wimp