poppy English · revision 1542

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=before 700}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpɒpi/ ''(UK)''; /ˈpɑpi/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|popi]], [[inh|ang|popig]], earlier [[m|ang|popæg]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) probably an alteration of [[la-vul|*papāvum]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) itself an alteration of [[la|papāver|t=poppy]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The exact formation of both words is obscure.^(Weekley 1921) Etymonline suggests a reduplicated form of an imitative root [[ine-pro|*pap-|t=to swell]],^(Etymonline) and Partridge an Egyptian source.^(Partridge 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A plant of the genus ''Papaver'', with milky narcotic juice and showy flowers (before 700 in the OED; about 700 in Barnhart).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The name also meant a narcotic extract of the plant, such as opium,^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) as in Shakespeare's “Not poppy, nor mandragora”.^(GDoS) The poppy has been associated with battlefields and war dead at least since Waterloo,^(Etymonline) a link sealed by John McCrae's First World War poem about Flanders,^(Etymonline) and since 1921 artificial poppies were worn to remember the war dead.^(OED 1989)^(RHWU) In Australia a ''tall poppy'' is a distinguished or well-paid person.^(OED 1989)^(RHWU) As a colour name it means a strong reddish orange,^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) and in British slang it has meant money since 1943.^(OED 1989)^(GDoS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 700 – the plant.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1150 – ''papig''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1641 – ''tall poppy''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1921 – the Flanders poppy of remembrance.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1943 – money (slang).^(OED 1989)^(GDoS)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Any of numerous plants of the genus ''Papaver'', with showy red, orange or white flowers and a milky juice, including the [[opium]] poppy.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Any of several similar or related plants, such as the California poppy.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An extract from the poppy, such as opium, used in medicine and as a [[narcotic]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A vivid reddish-orange colour.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An artificial poppy worn to remember those who died in war.^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[poppied]]

+ * [[poppyhead]]

+ * [[poppy red]]

+ * [[poppy seed]]

+ * [[Shirley poppy]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[papaverine]]

+ * [[opium]]

+ * [[laudanum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}