pimpernel

What it means

1. archaicA plant of the genus Pimpinella, especially burnet saxifrage (Pimpinella saxifraga).First known use 16th c.
2. Any of various plants of the genus Anagallis, having small red, white or purple flowers, especially the scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis).First known use 15th c.

   Common Pimpernel has diverse weak square stalks lying on the ground, beset all along with two small and almost round leaves at every joint [...].

   1653, Nicholas Culpeper, The English Physician Enlarged, Folio Society, published 2007, page 221

   1 more example

   Pimpernel (poor man's weather glass) was also a protection, but as the gatherer collected the herbs, he must chant a certain incantation and continue to do so twice a day for 15 days[.]

   1940, Rosetta E. Clarkson, Green Enchantments: The Magic Spell of Gardens, The Macmillan Company, page 272

3. Sanguisorba spp.
   1. Great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis)First known use 16th c.

In a sentence

Common Pimpernel has diverse weak square stalks lying on the ground, beset all along with two small and almost round leaves at every joint [...].

1653, Nicholas Culpeper, The English Physician Enlarged, Folio Society, published 2007, page 221

Where it comes from

1. Medieval Latinpimpinella
2. Middle Frenchpimpinelle“burnet saxifrage”
3. Anglo-Normanpimpernele
4. Englishpimpernel

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: 16th c.