thistledownn.
/ˈθɪs(ə)ldaʊn/ a. The down or pappus which crowns the ‘seeds’ or achenes of the thistle, and by means of which they are carried along by the wind: either collectively, or that of a single ‘seed’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Compositae (composite plants) > [noun] > thistles > flower-head or down
thistle-top1552
thistledown1561
thistle-seed1782
thistle-beard1797
thistle-head1839
thistle-tufta1847
thistle-ball1855
thistle-crown1878
thistle-clock1948
1561 [see sense c].
1585 J. Higgins tr. Junius Nomenclator 112/1 Pappus, the downe of flowers which the wind bloweth about: as thistle downe.
1591 E. Spenser Prosopopoia in Complaints 634 As a thistle-downe in th' ayre doth flie.
1714 B. Mandeville Fable Bees i. 226 If it were a hard Winter, they mingled some Thistle down with their Rushes to keep them warm.
1879 R. Jefferies Wild Life 206 Thistledown is sometimes gathered to fill pillow-cases.
1894 F. Willard in Chicago Advance 4 Oct. One sees a thistledown borne on the breeze.
b. As a type of lightness, flimsiness, or instability; hence figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > emptiness or insubstantiality
vacuity1593
inanity1603
slightnessa1616
outsideness1647
frothinessa1716
sleaziness1727
floatiness1839
thistledown1868
the world > matter > properties of materials > lightness > [noun] > that which is light > typically
feather1546
thistledown1868
1868 W. Cory Lett. & Jrnls. (1897) 251 The thistle-down of sentiment hung about me all the time.
1904 R. Hichens Garden of Allah x Forgive my malice... It was really a thing of thistledown.
1908 Outlook 27 Nov. 880/1 That is not to say that Christianity is to be a thistledown to be blown hither and thither at the breath of every fad and whim.
c. attributive. Of or like thistledown (literal and figurative).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > pattern or design > [adjective] > others
horned1382
branched1509
filleted1611
serpentiferous1743
honeycombed1855
skeuomorphic1889
thistledown1889
Paisley1913
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [adjective]
twiredec888
orrathc1175
twofoldc1175
twifoldc1200
waveringc1315
uncertain1382
suspensec1440
mammeringa1450
flowing?1504
floghtering1521
vacillant1521
in a mammering1532
double-minded1552
unstaid1561
unresolute1570
unresolved?1571
staggeringa1577
frittle1579
irresolute1579
cheverel1583
off and on1583
halting1585
unsettleda1593
unresolving1599
demurring1607
waving1611
suspensive1614
hoveringa1616
startling1619
irresolved1621
hesitating1622
indetermined1628
variousa1643
branling1645
hesitant1647
non-sincere1656
hesitatious1657
humdrum1660
shuttlecock1660
yea-and-nay1672
swaying1688
interpendent1708
undetermined1718
Squadronec1720
hesitatorya1734
volanta1734
shilly-shally1734
dilly-dally1749
niffy-naffy1765
wiggle-waggle1778
undecided1779
undecisive1780
indecisive1787
conflicted1789
hesitative1795
undeciding1802
vacillating1814
yea-nay1827
demurrant1836
willy-nilly1839
shilly-shallying1842
oscillative1852
Hamletish1854
vacillatory1854
dilly-dallying1879
thistledown1897
weak-principled1913
not-quite1920
off-again on-again1923
dithery1931
havering1975
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > mental wandering > light-mindedness > [adjective]
lightlyeOE
lightOE
lightsomea1425
flying1509
light-minded?1529
tickle or light of the sear?1530
giddya1547
light-headed1549
gidded1563
giddish1566
fling-brained1570
tickle-headed1583
toyish1584
shallow1594
leger1598
corky1601
barmy1602
airy1609
unfirma1616
unballast1622
cork-brained1630
unballasted1644
kickshawa1655
unserious1655
unstudious1663
flirtishc1665
caper-witteda1670
shatter-headedc1686
corky-brained1699
flea-lugged1724
halokit1724
shatter-brained1727
scattered-brained1747
shatter-witted1775
flippant1791
butterfly-brained1796
scatter-brained1804
gossamer1806
shandy-pated1806
shattery1820
barmy-brained1823
papilionaceous1832
flirtatious1834
flirty1840
Micawberish1859
scatterheaded1867
flibberty-gibberty1879
thistledown1897
shatter-pated1901
trivial-minded1905
scattery1924
fizgig1928
ditzy1979
1561 Will M. Langrygge (Somerset Ho.) Thesseldowne bed.
1889 John Bull 2 Mar. 149/3 The train was of thistle~down brocade, that being the design brocaded, or rather embossed, upon the snowy surface of the silk.
1897 Westm. Gaz. 12 Feb. 2/1 The thistle-down character of Miss Hart.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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