poppy
nounadjectiveadjectiveadjectivenouncommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈpɒpi//
- United States//ˈpɑpi//
Any plant of the genus Papaver or the family Papaveraceae, with crumpled, often red, petals and a milky juice having narcotic properties; especially a common poppy or corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) which has orange-red flowers; the flower of such a plant.
noun
- 1
Any plant of the genus Papaver or the family Papaveraceae, with crumpled, often red, petals and a milky juice having narcotic properties; especially a common poppy or corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) which has orange-red flowers; the flower of such a plant.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row, / That mark our place; […] / If ye break faith with us who die / We shall not sleep, though poppies grow / In Flanders fields.
We cherish, too, the poppy red / That grows on fields where valor led; / It seems to signal to the skies / That blood of heroes never dies, / […] / And now the torch and poppy red / We wear in honor of our dead. / Fear not that ye have died for naught; / We've learned the lesson that ye taught / In Flanders fields.
- 2
A bright red colour tinted with orange, like that of the common poppy flower.
- 3
A simple artificial poppy flower worn in a buttonhole or displayed in other contexts to remember those who died in the two World Wars and other armed conflicts, especially around Remembrance Day/Remembrance Sunday.
Troops from the garrison town formed a guard of honour for both sets of players, who emerged for the national anthem with poppies proudly stitched into their tracksuit jackets.
Etymology
PIE word *péh₂wr̥ The noun is derived from Late Middle English poppy, Middle English popy, popi, popie (“plant of the genus Papaver; poppy seeds used as a spice”) [and other forms], from Old English popiġ (“poppy”), Early Old English popeġ, popaeġ, popæġ, popei [and other forms], perhaps from Late Latin *papavum, popauer, from Latin papāver (“poppy”), which may be from a reduplication of Proto-Indo-European *péh₂wr̥ (“bonfire”). Doublet of papaver. Sense 3 (“artificial poppy flower to remember those who died in the two World Wars and other armed conflicts”) reflects the efforts of American professor and humanitarian Moina Michael (1869–1944) to popularize the wearing of artificial poppies in remembrance of those who fought and died in World War I; she was inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields” (1915) by the Canadian poet and soldier John McCrae (1872–1918): see the quotation. The adjective is derived from the noun.
adjective
- 1
Of a bright red colour tinted with orange, like that of the common poppy flower (Papaver rhoeas).
adjective
- 1
informalHaving a popping or bursting sound.
- 2
informalOf a beverage: resembling soda pop; effervescent, fizzy.
- 3
informalOf eyes: protruding, sticking out.
Etymology
From pop (“loud, sharp sound; fizzy drink; to make or burst with a loud, sharp sound; to stand out”) + -y (suffix forming adjectives with the sense ‘having the quality of’).
adjective
- 1
datedPopular.
- 2
informalTypical of, or in the style of, pop music.
I thought Sparks were great; they were very poppy for Island Records. They were considered an oddity but you have to remember that at the time Roxy Music, now everyone's seminal band, were seen as very poppy.
Etymology
From pop(ular) + -y (suffix forming adjectives with the sense ‘having the quality of’).
noun
- 1
informalOne's father or grandfather, or a male authority figure having similar standing.
Etymology
From pop (“affectionate form of father”) + -y (suffix forming terms of endearment).
Forms
- plural
- poppies
- comparative
- poppier, more poppy
- superlative
- poppiest, most poppy
poppy · Any plant of the genus Papaver or the family Papaveraceae, with crumpled, often red, petals and a milky juice having narcotic properties; especially…
Poppy · A female given name from English, a flower name used since…pops · Father, dad.popular · Common among the general public; generally accepted.