touch-me-not

[tuhch-mee-not]

noun

1. any of several plants belonging to the genus Impatiens, of the balsam family, especially I. noli-tangere, bearing pods that, when ripe, burst on being touched, scattering the seeds.

touch-me-not

noun

1. Also called: noli-me-tangere. any of several balsaminaceous plants of the genus Impatiens, esp I. noli-me-tangere, having yellow spurred flowers and seed pods that burst open at a touch when ripe

Word History and Origins

Origin of touch-me-not¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

For years, it was WASPy, long-legged girls, with a tennis racket over one shoulder and a touch-me-not attitude.

From Los Angeles Times

Winnie, standing at the fence in front of the touch-me-not cottage, could hear the new note in the voices of the birds.

From Literature

These plants present the most remarkable blending of the rigid, uncompromising, touch-me-not aspect and the ethereal and fragile.

From Project Gutenberg

The lights falling on their faces threw up a singular likeness in expression, a kind of touch-me-not attitude that defied their physical juxtaposition.

From Project Gutenberg

Everyone knows the garden plant touch-me-not, so called from the curious irritability of its pods, which writhe in an uncanny way when we gather them. 

From Project Gutenberg