pimpernel

UK: /ˈpɪmpəˌnɛl/ US: (pim′pər nel′, -nl)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pim•per•nel  (pim′pər nel′, -nl), n. 

1. Plant Biology a plant belonging to the genus Anagallis, of the primrose family, esp. A. arvensis (scarlet pimpernel,) having scarlet or white flowers that close at the approach of bad weather.

• Late Latin pipīnella, syncopated variant of *piperīnella
• Late Latin *piperīnella, equivalent. to piper pepper + -īn- -ine¹ + -ella diminutive suffix; replacing Old English pipeneale
• Middle French pimprenelle, nasalized variant of Old French piprenelle
• late Middle English pympernele 1400–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pimpernel / ˈpɪmpəˌnɛl -n^əl/ noun

1. any of several plants of the primulaceous genus Anagallis, such as the scarlet pimpernel, typically having small star-shaped flowers
2. any of several similar and related plants, such as Lysimachia nemorum (yellow pimpernel)

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French pimpernelle, ultimately from Latin piper pepper; compare Old English pipeneale