pansy
/ˈpæn.zi/ noun, adjective, verb, proper noun
Forms pansies pansying pansied pancy
- noun A cultivated flowering plant, derived by hybridization within species Viola tricolor.
- noun A deep purple colour, like that of the pansy.
- noun Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Junonia.
- noun (derogatory, colloquial) A timid, weak man or boy; a wuss.
- noun (derogatory, colloquial, dated) A male homosexual, especially one who is effeminate.
- adjective Wimpy; spineless; feeble.
- adjective Of a deep purple colour, like that of the pansy.
- verb (slang, intransitive, usually with "around" or "about") To mess about; to fail to get things done.
- proper noun A female given name.
Synonyms
argus big girl's blouse candy-arse candy-ass crybaby milksop milquetoast namby namby-pamby nestle-cock pantywaist poon punk pushover pussy sissy softy tenderling weakling weenie Viola tricolor hortensis fagot faggot fag fairy nance queen queer poof poove
Etymology
From Middle French pensée (“thought”), as the plant resembles someone that is in deep thought, with a lowered head. Doublet of pensée.
From pansy (“type of flower”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A plant of the genus Viola (V. tricolor) and its blossom, originally purple and yellow. Cultivated varieties have very large flowers of a great diversity of colors. Called also heart's-ease, love-in-idleness, and many other quaint names.
Etymology [F. Pensée thought, pansy, fr. penser to think, L. pensare to weigh, ponder. See Pensive.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “pansy”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details