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.
| 1869 J. 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. 1878 Mrs. Stowe Poganuc People xvii. 182 Then the pussy-willows threw out their soft catkins. 1884 Roe Nat. Ser. Story vi, He pressed through them to look for..pussy willows. 1893 Dartnell & Goddard Gloss. Words used in Wiltshire 126 Pussy-willow. Salix. 1897 W. D. Howells Landlord at Lion's Head 364 He begged her to let him keep one switch of the pussy-willows. 1924 A. D. Sedgwick Little French Girl ii. i. 103 Sometimes it [sc. Alix's skin] was grey, like pussy-willow. 1939 F. Thompson Lark Rise i. 1 There were violets under the hedges and pussy-willows out beside the brook. 1949 Lisle (Illinois) Eagle 31 Mar. 5/4 The spring motif decoration of jonquils and pussy willows..gave a gay and festive setting. 1958 R. 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’]. 1969 Canadian Antiques Collector Aug. 20/1 Pussywillows are arranged in one of a collection of..sugar bowls. 1976 Burnham-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]. |