pussy willow
Americannoun
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a small willow, Salix discolor, of eastern North America, having silky catkins.
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any of various similar willows.
noun
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a willow tree that produces silvery silky catkins, esp Salix caprea or S. cinerea in Britain or S. discolor in North America
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any of various similar willows
Etymology
Origin of pussy willow
An Americanism dating back to 1865–70
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And forced bulbs fill the toughest slot in the calendar, when the garden may not offer much more than a pussy willow branch.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 20, 2023
On Saturday, Lviv’s flower market was crowded with women from surrounding villages selling pussy willow branches wrapped up in twine with spring flowers, berries and greenery.
From New York Times ● Apr. 17, 2022
One of the easiest plants to harvest is the pussy willow.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 2, 2021
After-dinner cordials may include a sharply bitter infusion of kumquats and pussy willow, or a strange, fragrant concoction of Italian bitter-almond liqueur and funky Pineau des Charentes from the area where Cognac is made.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2016
A large vase of cut pussy willow stalks had been tipped over and shattered, with shards of broken crockery and stray catkins everywhere.
From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
