Shirley poppy

noun

Shir·ley poppy ˈshər-lē-

: a cultivated corn poppy with brightly colored usually white, pink, or red single or double flowers

Word History

Etymology

Shirley vicarage, Croydon, England

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of Shirley poppy was in 1886

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

Shirley

Shirley poppy

Shirley Temple

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Shirley poppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Shirley%20poppy. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fidelity

Listen to the pronunciation of fidelity

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Popular in Wordplay

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)