Johnny-jump-up

noun

John·​ny-jump-up ˌjä-nē-ˈjəmp-ˌəp 

1

: a common cultivated European viola (Viola tricolor) which has short-spurred flowers usually blue or purple mixed with white and yellow and from which most of the garden pansies are derived

broadly : any of various small-flowered cultivated pansies

2

: any of various American violets

Examples of Johnny-jump-up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Violas, also known as Johnny-jump-ups, are a compact version of pansies. —Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

Johnny-jump-up

noun

John·​ny-jump-up

ˌjän-ē-ˈjəm-ˌpəp

: any of various pansies or violets with small flowers