Scrabble Bingo of the Day: NOSEGAY

Scrabble Bingo of the Day: NOSEGAY [n]

A nosegay is simply a bouquet of flowers, typically given as gifts. It comes from Middle English, from the words nose and gay, which in this case means brightly colored and showy. It does not reference homosexuality; the modern sense of gay.

Nosegays were originally intended to be held to the nose for the pleasant sensation, or to mask unpleasant odors. They consist of a small bunch of fragrant flowers and herbs, tied in a bundle, edged with paper frill or greens.

Nosegays eventually became popular as a fashion accessory under the name "tussie-mussie" during the reign of Queen Victoria in England. As gifts, they can be used as a vehicle for the floral "language of love" to send a message to the recipient.

NOSEGAY [n/pl.] -S  a bouquet

Related words:

BARBOLA [n/pl.] -S  ornamentation with small flowers
BOUTONNIERE [n/pl.] -S  a flower or small bunch of flowers worn in a buttonhole
BOUQUET [n/pl.] -S  a bunch of flowers
CORSAGE [n/pl.] -S  a small bouquet of flowers
GARLAND [v] -ED, -ING, -ES  to deck with wreaths of flowers
HAKU [n/pl.] -S  a crown of flowers
LEI [n/pl.] -S  a wreath of flowers
POSY [n/pl.] POSIES  a flower or bouquet
VERTICIL [n/pl.] -S  a circular arrangement, as of flowers or leaves, about a point on an axis
WREATH [n/pl.] -S  a band of flowers  WREATHY [adj]