nosegay
3 synonyms for nosegay, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A small bunch of sweet-smelling flowers or herbs, often given as a gift, originally held near the nose for its pleasant smell or to cover bad ones.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
Comes from Late Middle English nōsegai (?), formed from nōse (“nose”), itself from Old English nosu, going back ultimately to Proto-Indo-European *nas- (“nose”), plus gai (“a bright or gay object; an ornament”), from Old French gai (“cheerful, gay, happy”); it is equivalent to nose + gay.
Full origin of nosegay →