Nose gays

A nosegay, posy, or tussie-mussie is a small flower bouquet. They have existed in some form since at least medieval times, when they were carried or worn around the head or bodice. [1]. Doilies are traditionally used to bind the stems in these arrangements. Elizabethan Nosegays. The term nosegay is derived from the Middle English gay , meaning bright object or ornament or gay in the sense of happiness or joy, literally meaning an ornament that brings joy to the nose. The word Tussie Mussie or tusemose is first mentioned in and is derived from the word tuse meaning knot of flowers and mose referring to the damp moss that was wrapped around the stems to prevent the flowers from drying out.

Nosegay is a homegrown word—that is, it originated in English. 15th-century Middle English speakers joined nose (which meant then what it does today) with gay (which, at the time, meant "ornament"). That makes nosegay an appropriate term for a bunch of flowers, which is indeed an ornament that appeals to the nose. A nosegay is a small compilation of flowers attached together by ribbons or twines that dates back to the old days and even further back to medieval times. Nosegay roses saw a rise during the time of Queen Victoria, who made this tiny bouquet a popular fashion accessory among high society members. These days, the trend have caught-on especially for weddings because they have so many multiple uses.

nosegay, small, hand-held bouquet popular in mid- 19th-century Victorian England as an accessory carried by fashionable ladies. Composed of mixed flowers and herbs and edged with a paper frill or greens, the arrangement was sometimes inserted into a silver filigree holder. These floral arrangements may be worn in the hair, pinned as a brooch, or carried by hand, sometimes including fragrant flowers and herbs. However, their original purpose and meaning were quite different when these miniature arrangements appeared over years ago. Initially, these small bundles of blooms and scented herbs served a very practical purpose.

Nosegays or Tussie-Mussies are small bouquets of flowers and herbs that were attached to lady's bodices and to gentleman’s doublet or mantle. The term nosegay is derived from the Middle English gay, meaning bright object or ornament or gay in the sense of happiness or joy, literally meaning an ornament that brings joy to the nose. A small bunch of flowers, typically one that it sweet-scented. A nosegay was usually worn at the waist or bodice. Among the different appendages of female dress, none are perhaps more ornamental than the beautiful bouquets so much worn at present by ladies of fashion; and which, it seems, were first introduced into this country by the French ladies.