Johnny-jump-up

[jon-ee-juhmp-uhp]

noun

any of certain violets, especially Viola pedunculata, having variously colored flowers.
a small form of the pansy, V. tricolor.

Origin of Johnny-jump-up

1835–45, Americanism; so called from its rapid rate of growth; see Johnny

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for johnny-jump-up

Historical Examples of johnny-jump-up

But Johnny-jump-up suits 'em best, for it kind o' tells how they come up in the spring.
Aunt Jane of Kentucky
Eliza Calvert Hall

British Dictionary definitions for johnny-jump-up

Johnny-jump-up

noun

US and Canadian any of several violaceous plants, esp the wild pansy

Word Origin for Johnny-jump-up

C19: so called from its quick growth

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