Dictionary

pimpernel en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈpɪmpənɛl/ (UK)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman pimpernele et al., Middle French pimpinelle (“burnet saxifrage”) et al., from Medieval Latin pimpinella, pipinella, most likely from piper (“pepper”) because its fruit resembled peppercorns, although variants may suggest other derivations, bipinnella the bipennis (“two-winged”).

Meanings

1. (archaic) A plant of the genus Pimpinella, especially burnet saxifrage (Pimpinella saxifraga).
2. Any of various plants of the genus Anagallis, having small red, white or purple flowers, especially the scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis).
   • Pimpernel (poor man's weather glass) was also a protection, but as the gatherer collected the herbs, he must chant a certain incantation and continue to do so twice a day for 15 days[.] 1940, Rosetta E. Clarkson, Green Enchantments: The Magic Spell of Gardens, The Macmillan Company, page 272:
   • Common Pimpernel has diverse weak square stalks lying on the ground, beset all along with two small and almost round leaves at every joint [...]. 1653, Nicholas Culpeper, The English Physician Enlarged, Folio Society, published 2007, page 221:
3. Sanguisorba spp. ▸ Great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis)
4. Sanguisorba spp. ▸ Salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor).
5. (Canada, US) A yellow pimpernel (Taenidia integerrima)
6. (figuratively) Someone resembling the fictional Scarlet Pimpernel; a gallant dashing resourceful man given to remarkable feats of bravery and derring-do in liberating victims of tyranny and injustice.
   • Lined up solidly with the Pimpernels and with the persecuted.

Forms

Deriveds

false pimpernel · bastard pimpernel · water pimpernel · scarlet pimpernel

Translations (26)

fi punka (plant of genus Anagallis) · sv mire (plant of genus Anagallis) · hu orvosi vérfű (Sanguisorba officinalis) · grc ἀναγαλλίς (plant of genus Anagallis) · ca anagall (plant of genus Anagallis) · de Gauchheil (plant of genus Anagallis) · pt morrião (plant of genus Anagallis) · he מַרְגָנִית (plant of genus Anagallis) · grc σαπάνα (plant of genus Anagallis) · fr mouron (plant of genus Anagallis) · es murajes (plant of genus Anagallis) · kk көзгүл (plant of genus Anagallis) · ar حَبَق الْفِيل (plant of genus Anagallis) · fi rohtoluppio (Sanguisorba officinalis) · fi Prinssi Rohkea (someone resembling Scarlet Pimpernel) · bg огни́вче (plant of genus Anagallis) · hy մկնականջ (plant of genus Anagallis) · hu tikszem (plant of genus Anagallis) · ar أَنَاغَالِس (plant of genus Anagallis) · nl guichelheil (plant of genus Anagallis) · ru о́чный цвет (plant of genus Anagallis) · ar أُذْن الفَأْر (plant of genus Anagallis) · pl kurzyślad (plant of genus Anagallis) · ar حَبَق الْفَتَى (plant of genus Anagallis) · hu őszi vérfű (Sanguisorba officinalis) · syc ܐܕܢܝ ܥܘܩܒܪܐ (plant of genus Anagallis)