Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for nosegay. Search instead for nosegays.
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

“Here’s your posy, Mother! Laurie never forgets that,” she said, putting the fresh nosegay in the vase that stood in ‘Marmee’s corner’, and was kept supplied by the affectionate boy.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training