tuzzy-muzzy, n. (a.)
(ˈtʌzɪˌmʌzɪ)
Forms: α. 5 tusmose, tussemose, 7 tussimussie; β. 7 tuzzimussie, 6–8 tuzzie-, tuzzi-, -muzzie, -muzzy, 8–9 tuzzy-muzzy, 20— tussie-mussie.
[app. a kind of reduplicated or riming jingle on tussy. The early form tus- or tussemose, with the transitional tussimussie, suggest the existence of *tus or *tusse in the sense ‘cluster or knot of flowers’, whence tussy.]
A. n. a. A bunch or posy of flowers, a nosegay; a garland of flowers. Also fig. Revived in 20th cent., usu. in form tussie-mussie.
| α c 1440 Promp. Parv. 494/2 Tyte tust, or tusmose of flowrys or othyr herbys (S. tytetuste or tussemose), olfactorium. 1629 Parkinson Paradisus 281 A delicate Tussi⁓mussie, as they call it, or Nosegay. |
| β 1585 J. Higins Junius' Nomencl. 113/2 Seruia, a nose⁓gay: a tuzziemuzzie: a sweete posie. 1587 Golding De Mornay xxiii. (1592) 342 [Apollo] commaunded..to remoue the tuzzimuzzies of flowers from his feete. 1598 Florio, Serta..a circlet or garland or wreath, a tuzzie-muzzie. 1620 Thomas Lat. Dict., Sertum,..a nosegay, a tuzzimussie. 1629 Symmer Spir. Posie Ep. A ij b, Then shall this Tuzzi⁓muzzie have its wished and expected smell. 1664 Gouldman Copious Dictionary (1669) s.v. Tuttie, A Tuttie, nosegay, posie or tuzziemuzzie, fasciculus. 1706 [see tutty n.2]. 1958 J. G. Conway Encycl. Flower Arrangement vi. 104 Tuzzy-muzzy, a small, neat arrangement with flowers in repeated circular lines, edged with foliage or lace. 1960 V. Williams Walk Egypt 180 He gave her a hand bouquet of lemon-colored roses which smelled like lemon too, a sour-sweetness that matched the morning. He said, ‘A tussie-mussie... I figured you belonged to have something, a day like this.’ 1968 Herb Grower Mag. XXI. i. 1 From a little Tussie-mussie to a formal garden at the White House, the warmth of herbs reaches across the miles. 1973 New Yorker 7 Apr. 126/3 (Advt.), Tussie-mussies... Delightful bouquets of fragrance herbs, cooking herbs,..and medicinal herbs. A full-color limited edition portfolio. |
b. dial. As popular name of particular plants or flowers (see
quots.); also, a bur.
| 1842 Phelps Collect. Glouc. 281 Tuzzy muzzy, a burr. 1886 Britten & Holland Eng. Plant-n., Tuzzy muzzy, Muscari comosum... Norf[olk]. 1890 Gloucester Gloss. Supp., Tuzzy-muzzy, old man's beard; Clematis Vitalba. |
† c. transf. See
quots. slang. Obs.| 1711 E. Ward Quix. I. 70 And Salt as Lot's Wife's Tuzzy⁓muzzy. 1721 Bailey, Tuzzimuzzy,..a jocular Name for the Pudendum Muliebre. [Hence in Halliwell, and in later Dicts.] |
B. adj. Dishevelled, ragged; fuzzy.
dial.| 1847–78 Halliwell, Tuzzimuzzy, rough; ragged; dishevelled. |