mimosa etymology

Etymology:

• Late Latin mimosa, feminine of mimosus "full of actors, mimic", from Greek mimos "imitator, mimic", from mimeisthai "to imitate"

Meaning:

• A shrub or small tree of the genus Mimosa, native to tropical and subtropical regions, typically with feathery leaves and pink or yellow flowers.
• A member of the genus Mimosa, especially M. pudica, the "sensitive plant" that closes its leaves when touched.

Origin:

The word "mimosa" ultimately derives from the Greek word mimeisthai "to imitate." In ancient Greece, mimos referred to a "comic actor" or a "buffoon."

The term was later applied to a type of plant (present-day Mimosa pudica) that exhibits a remarkable defense mechanism of closing its leaves when touched. This sensitivity was seen as analogous to the exaggerated gestures of an actor.

Over time, the term "mimosa" was extended to other species of Mimosa and related genera, as well as to the plants' characteristic flower clusters, which resemble fluffy balls.

In the 19th century, the word "mimosa" also began to be used as a colloquial term for the cocktail made with champagne and orange juice, which is said to resemble the yellow flowers of the mimosa tree.

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