pussy's-paw

1 9.9

A small plant with low stems and closely packed pink flowers like a cat's paw found in forests

noun
/ˈpʌsiz pɔ/

: pata de gato

Examples

I never watched Mr. Pussy's rants before today.

Blog text (17)
I'm taking this as a precaution - just in case they give us any shit about pussy's decision delay.

Fiction book (1997)
It requires three cords, two power boxes, and half a bottle of lube (so it can replicate a pussy's "natural wetness") to operate.

Blog text (22)
In the spring, the forest floor was covered with pussy's-paw, showcasing its delicate pink flowers.
The gardener admired the pussy's-paw for its unique clusters of flowers that resemble a cat's paws.
During our hike, we spotted pussy's-paw blooming in the shade of the tall coniferous trees.

Synonyms

pussy-paws

vspussy's-paw

9.9

A small wild plant with pink flowers grouped like a cat's paw

is the same plant but the name uses a different punctuation form

pussy-paw

vspussy's-paw

9.9

A low plant with soft pink flowers in close clusters

is the same species but emphasizes low stems resembling cat pads

Spraguea umbellatum

vspussy's-paw

Specialized

9.9

A low plant that has clusters of small pink flowers in conifer forests of western North America

gives the common name form rather than the scientific name

Calyptridium umbellatum

vspussy's-paw

Specialized

9.9

A small plant in mountain pine forests with fleshy pink flowers in tight clusters on low stems

refers to the same general look but not the same taxonomic identity

Surface Forms

pussy's-paw singular

pussy's-paws plural

Morphology

pussy's-paw = pussy + paw (transparent) = pussy + paw

The plant is named for its resemblance to a cat's paw pads, so knowing 'pussy' (cat) and 'paw' allows an average learner to infer the referent.

Etymology

Pussy's-paw comes from pussy ('cat') and paw ('foot'). The plant's round, pink flower clusters look like the soft pads of a cat's feet, so the name helps you remember this small forest flower.