|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
From an O.Henry story about a rancher and his guest having conversation while snow-bound:
"It's like you had a wife and left her in the morning with the same old blue cotton wrapper on, and rides in of a night and runs across her all outfitted in a white silk evening frock, waving an ostrich-feather fan, and monkeying with a posy of lily flowers. Wouldn't it make you look for your pocket compass? You'd be liable to kiss her before you collected your presence of mind."
I have always thought of a "posy" as a single flower, given as a token of admiration to a girl or woman. So I was surprised to find it more commonly means several flowers arranged with an effort at artistic effect.
Source: WordNet (r) 1.7
posy n : an arrangement of flowers that is usually given as a present [syn: bouquet, corsage, nosegay]
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Posy \Po"sy\, n.; pl. Posies. [Contr. fr. poesy.] 1. A brief poetical sentiment; hence, any brief sentiment, motto, or legend; especially, one inscribed on a ring. ``The posy of a ring.'' --Shak.
2. [Probably so called from the use of flowers as having an enigmatical significance. Wedgwood.] A flower; a bouquet; a nosegay. ``Bridegroom's posies.'' --Spenser.
We make a difference between suffering thistles to grow among us, and wearing them for posies. --Swift.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
I never thought to wonder about Lincolnshire Posy, a musical composition, by Percy Grainger I believe. huh.
formerly known as etaoin...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
formerly known as etaoin...
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,328
Members9,182
|
Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
0 members (),
1,273
guests, and
0
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
|