pussy willow

[ poos-ee ]

noun
  1. a small willow, Salix discolor, of eastern North America, having silky catkins.

  2. any of various similar willows.

Origin of pussy willow

1
An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

Words Nearby pussy willow

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use pussy willow in a sentence

  • And there's another reason for it beside my pussy willow maid's romance!

    Jane Journeys On | Ruth Comfort Mitchell
  • The last named bore a pink fuzzy blossom, not unlike pussy-willow, which was quite fragrant.

  • Choose a large pussy-willow for this mouse, ruffle the fur up on top of the head and it will look like ears.

  • One bright day in February I found a pussy-willow tree, with its deep purple buds showing not a hint of the life within.

    Getting Acquainted with the Trees | J. Horace McFarland
  • The smartest down-town flower shops are offering pussy willow boughs for table decoration.

    Dinners and Luncheons | Paul Pierce

British Dictionary definitions for pussy willow

pussy willow

/ (ˈpʊsɪ) /


noun
  1. a willow tree that produces silvery silky catkins, esp Salix caprea or S. cinerea in Britain or S. discolor in North America

  2. any of various similar willows

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