scarlet pimpernel
noun
Did you know?
In 1903, Hungarian-born playwright and novelist Baroness Emmuska Orczy introduced the world to Sir Percy Blakeney, ostensibly a foppish English aristocrat, but secretly a swashbuckling hero known as "The Scarlet Pimpernel" who rescued aristocrats from certain death in the French Revolution by smuggling them to England. In The Scarlet Pimpernel, Blakeney's character used a drawing of a small, red, star-shaped flower known in England as a "scarlet pimpernel" as a signature of his involvement in an escape. The popularity of Orczy's novel prompted English speakers to start using "scarlet pimpernel" for any daring hero who smuggled those in danger to a safe haven in another country. Today it is also sometimes used more broadly for a person who is daring, mysterious, or evasive.
Examples of scarlet pimpernel in a Sentence
Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 28 July 2023
Her go-to designer incorporated flowers including daisy chains, forget-me-nots, celandine and scarlet pimpernel to signify Camilla's love of nature, gardening and the British countryside.
—Monique Jessen, Peoplemag, 13 July 2023
The long-sleeve dress is made from a silk fabric with a dull luster finish, and additionally includes delicate gold and silver embroidery of flowers like daisy chains, forget-me-nots, celandine, and scarlet pimpernel, which are meant to represent the king and queen consort's love of nature.
—Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 May 2023
Harper's Bazaar noted that a variety of gold and silver flowers (including daisies, forget-me-nots, celandine and scarlet pimpernel) represented the king and queen's love for all things nature.
—Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 7 May 2023
Embellishments include floral designs featuring strings of wildflowers such as forget-me-notes, daisy chains and celandine along with scarlet pimpernel, meant to indicate the royal couple's love of the British countryside and nature.
—Morgan Hines, USA TODAY, 6 May 2023
The fruit of the scarlet pimpernel plant, shown here, opens with a neatly hinged lid.
—Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scarlet pimpernel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near scarlet pimpernel
Cite this Entry
“Scarlet pimpernel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scarlet%20pimpernel. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Share