johnny jump up
johnny jump up Lexical Profile
• noun
North American A small wild pansy (Viola tricolor) native to Europe but widely naturalized in North America, characterized by tricolored blooms of purple, yellow, and white that readily self-seed.
"The gardener was delighted to see a vibrant cluster of johnny jump ups blooming cheerfully along the edge of the stone pathway."
North American A type of infant toy consisting of a harness suspended by elastic straps, usually hung from a door frame, allowing a baby to bounce using their legs.
"The baby giggled continuously while bouncing excitedly in the johnny jump up hung in the kitchen doorway."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the 19th century in reference to the wild pansy's tendency to rapidly self-seed and sprout unpredictably, seemingly 'jumping up' from the soil in unexpected places.