pansy

¹pan·sy

noun \ˈpan-zē\

plural pansies

Definition of PANSY

1

: a garden plant (Viola wittrockiana) derived chiefly from the hybridization of the European Johnny-jump-up (Viola tricolor) with other wild violets; also : its flower

2

a usually disparaging : a weak or effeminate man or boy

b usually disparaging : a male homosexual

Origin of PANSY

Middle English pancy, pensee, from Middle French pensée, from pensée thought, from feminine of pensé, past participle of penser to think, from Latin pensare to ponder — more at pensive

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Seed Plant Terms

aubergine, box, bramble, briar, composite, perpetual, pulse, trefoil

Rhymes with PANSY

tansy

²pansy

adjective

Definition of PANSY

usually disparaging

: effeminate 1; also : homosexual

First Known Use of PANSY

1929

pansy

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Pansy (Viola tricolor)—Kitty Kohout/Root Resources

Any of several popular cultivated violets (genus Viola). Pansies have been grown for so long under such diverse conditions with such striking variations in colour and form that their origin is uncertain. Probably the garden pansy (V. wittrockiana) is a cultivated form of V. tricolor, a weed of European grainfields. Annuals or short-lived perennials, pansies grow 6–12 in. (15–30 cm) tall and have heart-shaped leaves at the base and oblong leaves growing from the stems. Velvety flowers occur in combinations of blue, yellow, and white. The smaller, usually purple, wild pansy is also known as Johnny-jump-up, heartsease, and love-in-idleness.