| 释义 |
ˈpussy-ˌwillow orig. U.S.
A popular name for several species of willow or their soft, fluffy catkins, which appear before the leaves; esp., in North America, the glaucous willow, Salix discolor, and, in Great Britain, the goat willow, Salix caprea.
1869J. G. Fuller Flower Gatherers 52 The aments appear before the leaves, and are covered with hairs so soft and silken that children often call them Pussy-Willows. 1878Mrs. Stowe Poganuc People xvii. 182 Then the pussy-willows threw out their soft catkins. 1884Roe Nat. Ser. Story vi, He pressed through them to look for..pussy willows. 1893Dartnell & Goddard Gloss. Words used in Wiltshire 126 Pussy-willow. Salix. 1897W. D. Howells Landlord at Lion's Head 364 He begged her to let him keep one switch of the pussy-willows. 1924A. D. Sedgwick Little French Girl ii. i. 103 Sometimes it [sc. Alix's skin] was grey, like pussy-willow. 1939F. Thompson Lark Rise i. 1 There were violets under the hedges and pussy-willows out beside the brook. 1949Lisle (Illinois) Eagle 31 Mar. 5/4 The spring motif decoration of jonquils and pussy willows..gave a gay and festive setting. 1958R. D. Meikle Brit. Trees & Shrubs 198 In recent years the childish ‘Pussy Willow’ has tended to replace these older names [of ‘Palm’ and ‘Goat Willow’]. 1969Canadian Antiques Collector Aug. 20/1 Pussywillows are arranged in one of a collection of..sugar bowls. 1976Burnham-on-Sea Gaz. 20 Apr. 12/9 All [the congregation] carried branches of pussy willow which had been cut locally for the occasion [sc. Palm Sunday]. |