poppy

Etymology 1

PIE word *péh₂wr̥ The noun is derived from Late Middle English poppy, Middle English popy, popi, popie (“plant of the genus Papaver; poppy seeds used as a spice”) [and other forms], from Old English popiġ (“poppy”), Early Old English popeġ, popaeġ, popæġ, popei [and other forms], perhaps from Late Latin *papavum, popauer, from Latin papāver (“poppy”), possibly from a reduplication of Proto-Indo-European *péh₂wr̥ (“bonfire”). Sense 3 (“artificial poppy flower to remember those who died in the two World Wars and other armed conflicts”) reflects the efforts of American professor and humanitarian Moina Michael (1869–1944) to popularize the wearing of artificial poppies in remembrance of those who fought and died in World War I; she was inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields” (1915) by the Canadian poet and soldier John McCrae (1872–1918): see the quotation. The adjective is derived from the noun.

noun

1. Any plant of the genus Papaver or the family Papaveraceae, with crumpled, often red, petals and a milky juice having narcotic properties; especially the common poppy or corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) which has orange-red flowers; the flower of such a plant.
   In Flanders fields the poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row, / That mark our place; … / If ye break faith with us who die / We shall not sleep, though poppies grow / In Flanders fields. 1915 May 3 (date composed), John McCrae, “In Flanders Fields”, in Punch, or The London Charivari, London: Published at the office, 85, Fleet Street, published 8 December 1915, →OCLC; republished in In Flanders Fields and Other Poems, New York, N.Y., London: G[eorge] P[almer] Putnam’s Sons[…], 1919, →OCLC, page 3
   We cherish, too, the poppy red / That grows on fields where valor led; / It seems to signal to the skies / That blood of heroes never dies, / … / And now the torch and poppy red / We wear in honor of our dead. / Fear not that ye have died for naught; / We've learned the lesson that ye taught / In Flanders fields. 9 November 1918, Moina Michael, We Shall Keep the Faith; quoted in Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the First Session of the Sixty-ninth Congress of the United States of America (United States House of Representatives), volume LXVII, part 4, Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 10 February 1926, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 3717, column 2
2. A bright red colour tinted with orange, like that of the common poppy flower.
   poppy:
3. (chiefly Australia, Britain, Canada) A simple artificial poppy flower worn in a buttonhole or displayed in other contexts to remember those who died in the two World Wars and other armed conflicts, especially around Remembrance Day/Remembrance Sunday.
   Troops from the garrison town formed a guard of honour for both sets of players, who emerged for the national anthem with poppies proudly stitched into their tracksuit jackets. 10 November 2011, Jeremy Wilson, “England under 21 5 Iceland under 21 0: Match report”, in Tony Gallagher, editor, The Daily Telegraph, London: Telegraph Media Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2011-11-11

adj

1. Of a bright red colour tinted with orange, like that of the common poppy flower (Papaver rhoeas).

Etymology 2

From pop (“loud, sharp sound; fizzy drink; to make or burst with a loud, sharp sound; to stand out”) + -y (suffix forming adjectives with the sense ‘having the quality of’).

adj

1. Having a popping or bursting sound.
2. Of a beverage: resembling soda pop; effervescent, fizzy.
3. Of eyes: protruding, sticking out.

Etymology 3

From pop(ular) + -y (suffix forming adjectives with the sense ‘having the quality of’).

adj

1. (dated) Popular.
2. (music) Typical, or in the style, of pop music.
   I thought Sparks were great; they were very poppy for Island Records. They were considered an oddity but you have to remember that at the time Roxy Music, now everyone's seminal band, were seen as very poppy. 2010, Daryl Easlea, “Island Life”, in Talent is an Asset: The Story of Sparks, London, New York, N.Y.: Omnibus Press

Etymology 4

From pop (“affectionate form of father”) + -y (suffix forming terms of endearment).

noun

1. (endearing) One's father or grandfather, or a male authority figure having similar standing.
   (father):
   (grandfather):