forget-me-not
[fer-get-mee-not]
- either of two small Old World plants, Myosotis sylvatica or M. scorpioides, of the borage family, having a light-blue flower commonly regarded as an emblem of constancy and friendship.
- any of several other plants of the genus Myosotis.
- any of various similar plants, especially of the genus Anchusa or Cynoglossum.
Origin of forget-me-not
1525–35; translation of Middle French ne m'oubliez mye
Also called scorpion grass for def 1, 2
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for forget-me-not
Historical Examples
She flung off the forget-me-not wreath and turned to Rosamund.
A Modern TomboyL. T. Meade
The last one I went to I had a great success as a forget-me-not.
Bird of ParadiseAda Leverson
She stared at him, her forget-me-not eyes dilating with dismay.
The Way to PeaceMargaret Deland
Could you tell me the origin of the name "Forget-me-not" as applied to flowers?
He opened it eagerly, and a sprig of forget-me-not fell into his hand.
The Scarlet FeatherHoughton Townley
forget-me-not
- any temperate low-growing plant of the mainly European boraginaceous genus Myosotis, having clusters of small typically blue flowersAlso called: scorpion grass
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for forget-me-not
n.
the flowering plant Myosotis palustris, 1530s, from Old French ne m'oubliez mye; in 15c. the flower was supposed to ensure that those wearing it should never be forgotten by their lovers. Similar loan-translations took the name into other languages, cf. German Vergißmeinnicht, Swedish forgätmigej, Hungarian nefelejcs, Czech nezabudka.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper