pimpernel

The story

1. Medieval Latin · derived frompimpinella
2. Middle French · derived frompimpinelle“burnet saxifrage”
3. Anglo-Norman · derived frompimpernele
4. English todaypimpernel

From Anglo-Norman pimpernele et al., Middle French pimpinelle (“burnet saxifrage”) et al., from Medieval Latin pimpinella, pipinella, most likely from piper (“pepper”) because its fruit resembled peppercorns, although variants may suggest other derivations, bipinnella the bipennis (“two-winged”).

First known use, by meaning

• from 16th c. A plant of the genus Pimpinella, especially burnet saxifrage (Pimpinella saxifraga).
• from 15th c. Any of various plants of the genus Anagallis, having small red, white or purple flowers, especially the scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis).
• from 16th c. Great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis)
• from 16th c. Salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor).
• from 20th c. Someone resembling the fictional Scarlet Pimpernel; a gallant dashing resourceful man given to remarkable feats of bravery and derring-do in liberating victims of tyranny and injustice.