pansy

(pan)

noun pl. pansies

  1. any of various violets, esp. a popular garden hybrid (Viola tricolor hortensis), with flat, broad, velvety petals in many colors
  2. Slang an effeminate man; esp., an effeminate male homosexual: often a contemptuous term

Origin: Fr pensée, a thought < penser, to think < L pensare: see pensive

See pansy in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. pan·sies
  1. Any of various plants of the genera Achimenes or Viola, especially V. tricolor or its hybrids, having flowers with velvety petals of various colors.
  2. A deep to strong violet.
  3. Offensive Slang
    a. Used as a disparaging term for a man or boy who is considered effeminate.
    b. Used as a disparaging term for a homosexual man.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English pancy

Origin: , from Old French pensee, thought, remembrance, pansy

Origin: , from feminine past participle of penser, to think; see pensive

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