pimpernel
pimpernel Lexical Profile
pimpernel Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of various low-growing flowering herbs of the genus Anagallis (now often placed in Lysimachia) in the primrose family, especially the scarlet pimpernel, characterized by small, star-shaped scarlet, blue, or white blossoms that open only in bright sunlight.
"The tiny red blossoms of the scarlet pimpernel closed tightly as storm clouds gathered over the meadow."
Any of several related or superficially similar herbaceous plants, such as burnet saxifrage (Pimpinella saxifraga) or salad burnet, historically used in culinary and medicinal preparations.
"Early herbalists frequently confused the foliage of the field pimpernel with that of garden burnet."
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed via Old French pimprenelle from Medieval Latin pimpinella, possibly an alteration of Latin pipinella or bipennula ('two-winged'), referring to the paired arrangement of the leaves.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.