poppies
|pop-pies|
🇺🇸
/ˈpɑːpɪz/
🇬🇧
/ˈpɒpɪz/
(poppy)
bright flowering plant; source of opium
Etymology
'poppy' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'papaver', where the root 'pap-' meant 'poppy'.
'poppy' changed from Old English 'popæg' and Middle English 'popy/poppie' and eventually became the modern English word 'poppy'.
Initially, it meant 'the poppy plant', and over time the word retained that core meaning while also gaining symbolic senses (sleep, death, remembrance) because of the plant's narcotic properties and cultural use.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the brightly colored flowering plants of the genus Papaver, often with red or orange petals and a dark center; commonly grown in gardens or found in meadows.
The field was covered with red poppies waving in the breeze.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/17 17:40