Dictionary

tussie-mussie en · NOUN

Etymology

From Scottish Gaelic tùs f (“nice smell, incense”) and debatable second part, a mere reduplication, or mùsg (“musk”) for a moschate flower, or mùisear (“primrose”).

Meanings

1. (historical) A nosegay given by one person to another to convey a message in the language of flowers.
   • Seruia, Plinio, Sertum è floribus, pastillus è floribus fartus. […] Vn bouquet. A garland of flowers: a nosegay: a tuzziemuzzie: a sweete posie. 1585, John Higgins, The nomenclator, or remembrancer of Adrianus Iunius physician, diuided in two tomes, conteining proper names and apt termes for all thinges vnder their conuenient titles, London: Ralph Newberie and Henrie Denham, page 113b:
   • Rosemary for remembrance, sage for long life, and roses for love were three positive messages that might have been passed on through a tussie-mussie. 2004, Barbara Pleasant, The Whole Herb: For Cooking, Crafts, Gardening, Health, and Other Joys of Life, Square One Publishers, Inc., →ISBN, page 67:
2. (euphemistic, historical, humorous, vulgar) The pudendum muliebre.
   • We got as thick as we could be, And every night drank strong bohea; Says he, ‘You shall be my son-in-law, And marry the Princess Washy Taw–’ Says I, ‘Your majesty, hold your jaw! I will accept the Princess Paw— With her tuzzy muzzy, hoki poki, hunky nunky, roki boki, pulka wulka, joki koki, All in the Tongo Islands. 1850, William Thomas Moncrieff, “The Tongo Islands, sung by Mr. T.P. Cooke”, in An original collection of Songs, sung at the Theatres Royal, Public Concerts &c., London: John Duncombe, page 108:

Forms