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Synonyms

nosegay

American  
[nohz-gay] / ˈnoʊzˌgeɪ /

noun

  1. a small bunch of flowers; bouquet; posy.


nosegay British  
/ ˈnəʊzˌɡeɪ /

noun

  1. a small bunch of flowers; posy

"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

Etymology

Origin of nosegay

1375–1425; late Middle English: literally, a gay (obsolete, something pretty; see gay) for the nose (i.e., to smell)


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.

See Examples For:

Ms. Zoller walked down the aisle carrying a nosegay of lily of the valley blooms, her grandmother’s favorite, from her own garden.

From New York Times ● May 27, 2022

In 1859, Nightingale wrote that when she had been ill, her recovery quickened after she received “a nosegay of wild flowers”.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 14, 2020

The tradition of carrying myrtle began after Queen Victoria was given a nosegay containing myrtle by Prince Albert's grandmother during a visit to Gotha in Germany.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2018

Dried flowers; a nosegay, a posy, a rose clipped the night before battle.

From The Verge ● Mar. 31, 2018

When they were done, Fern reluctantly contributed her two treasures to the nosegay.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson

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