bastard pimpernel
Definition
Noun: 1. A weedy plant: A common name for Anagallis arvensis, also known as scarlet pimpernel, a low-growing annual plant. It is characterized by having small, dry, chaff-like leaves.
Usage Notes
- This is a compound noun that functions as a single common name for a specific plant species. It is primarily used in botanical contexts or regional dialects.
- The term "bastard" in this context is an archaic or folk usage meaning "false" or "not genuine," distinguishing it from other plants also called pimpernel.
Examples
- The field was dotted with the small red flowers of the bastard pimpernel.
- Bastard pimpernel is often considered a weed in cultivated gardens.
Advanced Usage
- The plant is also widely known by its more common name, scarlet pimpernel (). Its flowers close in overcast weather, leading to folk names like "poor man's weatherglass."
Variants and Related Words
- Scarlet pimpernel: The most common name for the same plant ().
- Poor man's weatherglass: A folk name referencing the plant's weather-predicting behavior.
- Red pimpernel: Another common name based on flower color.
- Pimpernel: The base word, which can refer to other plants in the genus or .
Synonyms
- Scarlet pimpernel
- Red pimpernel
- (scientific name)
Related Idioms or Phrases
- To close like a pimpernel: An idiom describing something that shuts or folds up quickly, derived from the plant's habit of closing its flowers in dull weather.
Noun
-
weedy plant having short dry chafflike leaves
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