pimpernel

American  

[pim-per-nel, -nl] / ˈpɪm pərˌnɛl, -nl /

noun

1. a plant belonging to the genus Anagallis, of the primrose family, especially A. arvensis scarlet pimpernel, having scarlet or white flowers that close at the approach of bad weather.

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pimpernel British  

/ -nəl, ˈpɪmpəˌnɛl /

noun

1. any of several plants of the primulaceous genus Anagallis, such as the scarlet pimpernel, typically having small star-shaped flowers

2. any of several similar and related plants, such as Lysimachia nemorum ( yellow pimpernel )

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Etymology

Origin of pimpernel

1400–50; late Middle English pympernele < Middle French pimprenelle, nasalized variant of Old French piprenelle < Late Latin *piperīnella, equivalent to piper pepper + -īn- -ine ¹ + -ella diminutive suffix; replacing Old English pipeneale < Late Latin pipīnella, syncopated variant of *piperīnella

Example Sentences

The character is not without precedent – you can find him foreshadowed in Paul Bunyan, John Henry, the Scarlet Pimpernel, the Phantom.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2021

In that thrilling swashbuckler, the foppish, slightly dim Sir Percy Blakeney is secretly the intrepid Scarlet Pimpernel, whose guerrilla actions help save the innocent from the guillotine during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror.

From Washington Post • Jul. 10, 2019

Sixth graders read everything from Shakespeare to "The Scarlet Pimpernel."

From US News • Jun. 23, 2016

The man nicknamed Ghost and Scarlet Pimpernel left a lasting impression on all who saw him play, and also stamped his indelible mark on the record books.

From BBC • Nov. 28, 2014

So after all he’d been through, poor Pimpernel was killed by rabbits.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams