noun
pimpernel
PIHM-puh-nehl
noun
1
A small wild plant with tiny red, white, or purple flowers, especially the scarlet pimpernel.
"Scarlet pimpernel grows wild along the edges of many English fields."
2
A dashing, resourceful person who rescues others from danger, after the fictional Scarlet Pimpernel.
"He was hailed as a modern-day pimpernel for smuggling refugees to safety."
How to Use Pimpernel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small wildflower, or (from the novel/character) a brave, daring rescuer.
Common pairings
scarlet pimpernel
Word Forms
pimpernels plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “pimpernel”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Scarlet _____ grows wild along the edges of many English fields.
Etymology
From Old French pimpinelle, traced back to a Medieval Latin word possibly linked to "pepper," due to the plant's peppercorn-like seeds.