- nosegay
- nose|gay [ `nouz,geı ] noun count OLD-FASHIONEDa small BUNCH of flowers that you hold in your hand or give to someone
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.
nosegay
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nosegay — ose gay , n. [Nose + gay in the sense of a gay or showy thing.] A bunch of odorous and showy flowers; a bouquet; a posy. Pope. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Nosegay — (engl., spr. nōs gē, »Nasenweide«), eigentlich ein scherzhafter Ausdruck für Blumenstrauß, insbes. für eine duftende Blume im Knopfloch und da nach für den Träger einer solchen, also etwa soviel wie Stutzer, Elegant … Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon
nosegay — (n.) bunch of flowers, early 15c., from NOSE (Cf. nose) (n.) + GAY (Cf. gay) in an obsolete noun sense of gay or bright thing … Etymology dictionary
nosegay — ► NOUN ▪ a small sweet scented bunch of flowers. ORIGIN from GAY(Cf. ↑gayness) in the obsolete sense «ornament» … English terms dictionary
nosegay — [nōz′gā΄] n. [ NOSE + GAY (in obs. sense of “bright object”)] a bunch of flowers; small bouquet, esp. for carrying in the hand … English World dictionary
nosegay — UK [ˈnəʊzˌɡeɪ] / US [ˈnoʊzˌɡeɪ] noun [countable] Word forms nosegay : singular nosegay plural nosegays old fashioned a small bunch of flowers that you hold in your hand or give to someone … English dictionary
Nosegay — Posy redirects here. For the gossamer winged butterflies, see Drupadia. A nosegay, posey (or posie, posy), flower bouquet or tussie mussie is a small bunch of flowers, typically given as a gift. They have existed in some form since at least… … Wikipedia
nosegay — /nohz gay /, n. a small bunch of flowers; bouquet; posy. [1375 1425; late ME: lit., a gay (obs., something pretty; see GAY) for the NOSE (i.e., to smell)] * * * ▪ floral decoration also called tussie mussie , or posey small, hand held… … Universalium
nosegay — noun A small bunch of fragrant flowers or herbs, tied in a bundle, often presented as a gift on meeting, and originally intended to be put to the nose for the pleasant sensation, or to mask unpleasant odours. The 80 year old Government Opium and… … Wiktionary
nosegay — noun Etymology: Middle English, from nose nose + gay ornament, literally, something gay, from gay Date: 15th century a small bunch of flowers ; posy … New Collegiate Dictionary
nosegay — nose·gay (nōzґga) a name applied to an anatomical structure resembling a small bunch of flowers … Medical dictionary
