pimpernel

  1. Noun.  (context, now) A plant of the genus ''Pimpinella'', especially burnet saxifrage, ''Pimpinella saxifraga''. (defdate, from 16th c.) .
  2. Noun.  Any of various plants of the genus ''Anagallis'', having small red, white or purple flowers, especially the scarlet pimpernel, ''Anagallis arvensis''. (defdate, from 15th c.) .
  3. Noun.  Great burnet or salad burnet. (defdate, from 16th c.) .
  4. Noun.  Someone resembling the fictional (w, Scarlet Pimpernel) ; a gallant dashing resourceful man given to remarkable feats of bravery and derring-do in liberating victims of tyranny and injustice. (defdate, from 20th c.) .

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.