Nosegay
[NOHZ-gey]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Middle English, 15th century
1.
A small bunch of flowers, typically one that is sweet-scented.
Examples of Nosegay in a sentence
"Her daughter picked a nosegay that was mostly weeds, but she still loved it."
"Each of the bridesmaids received a small nosegay wrapped in lace."
About Nosegay
Nosegay is a uniquely English term. "Nose" is the part on the face used for smelling and breathing, and "gay" meant "ornament" in the 15th century. You could technically call a sparkly stud in someone's nostril a "nosegay," but we'll stick with a small bouquet of flowers. Stay traditional and wrap the bouquet in a lace doily or a silver nosegay holder.
Did you Know?
A nosegay is a small bunch of flowers often used at weddings, and it used to be a common and useful accessory elsewhere, too. In the 15th century, hygiene wasn't up to our modern standards, and people were quite a bit smellier. A sweetly scented nosegay held to the face helped to avoid the most noxious aromas.
