From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Small flower bouquet tied at the base
Queen
Elizabeth II
and
Prince Philip
hold nosegays by
Rosemary Hughes
as they leave
Wakefield Cathedral
after the 2005
Royal Maundy
A
nosegay
,
posy
, or
tussie-mussie
is a small
flower bouquet
, typically given as a gift. They have existed in some form since at least
medieval
times, when they were carried or worn around the head or bodice.
[1]
Doilies
are traditionally used to bind the stems in these arrangements. Alternatively, "posy holders", available in a variety of shapes and materials (although often silver), enable the wearing of these arrangements "at the waist, in the hair, or secured with a brooch".
[2]
The term
nosegay
arose in fifteenth-century
Middle English
as a combination of
nose
and
gay
(the latter then meaning "ornament"). A
nosegay
is, thus, an ornament that appeals to the nose or nostril.
[3]
[4]
The term
tussie-mussie
(also
tussy-mussy
) comes from the reign of
Queen Victoria
(1837?1901), when the small bouquets became a popular
fashion accessory
. Typically, tussie-mussies include floral symbolism from the
language of flowers
, and therefore may be used to send a message to the recipient.
[5]
In modern times the term specifically refers to small bouquets in a conical metal holder, or the holder itself, particularly when used at a
white wedding
.
[6]
[7]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
Look up
nosegay
in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.