CHAPTER XIII 
TUSSY-MUSSIES 
“There be some flowers make a delicious Tussie-Mussie or 
Nosegay both for Sight and Smell.’ ’ 
■ — -John Parkinson, A Garden of all Sorts of Pleasant Flowers, 1629. 
O following can be more pro- 
ductive of a study and love of 
word derivations and allied word 
meanings than gardening. An 
interest in flowers and in our 
English tongue go hand in hand. 
The old mediaeval word at the 
head of this chapter has a full 
explanation by Nares as “A nosegay, a tuzzie-muz- 
zie, a sweet posie.” The old English form, tussy- 
mose was allied with tosty, a bouquet, tuss and tusk , a 
wisp, as of hay, tussock , and tutty , a nosegay. 
Thomas Campion wrote : — 
“Joan can call by name her cows. 
And deck her windows with green boughs ; 
She can wreathes and tuttyes make. 
And trim with plums a bridal cake.” 
Tussy-mussy was not a colloquial word; it was 
found in serious, even in religious, text. A tussy- 
mussy was the most beloved of nosegays, and was 
often made of flowers mingled with sweet-scented 
leaves. 
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