Meaning and Origin
What does the name Pansy mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of Pansy
User Submitted Origins
French
33%
Chinese
33%
Latin
17%
English
17%
International Interest
Also see international interest
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
noun Pan"sy
A plant of the genus Viola Viola 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
Other Dictionary Sources
- Offensive term for a homosexual man
- A timid man or boy considered childish or unassertive
- Large-flowered garden plant derived chiefly from the wild pansy of Europe and having velvety petals of various colors
Wiktionary
From Middle French pensée (“thought”), as the plant resembles someone that is in deep thought, with a lowered head.
- A cultivated flowering plant, derived by hybridization within species Viola tricolor.
- A deep purple colour, like that of the pansy.
- pansy colour:
- Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Junonia. Also called arguses.
- (derogatory, colloquial, dated) A male homosexual, especially one who is effeminate.
- (derogatory, colloquial) A timid, weak man or boy; a wuss.