mimosa
Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
mimosa /mɪˈməʊzə, -sə/
▶noun
- 1 an Australian acacia tree with delicate fern-like leaves and yellow flowers. [Acacia dealbata.]
- 2 a plant of a genus that includes the sensitive plant. [Genus Mimosa.]
- 3 N. Amer. a drink of champagne and orange juice.
– origin mod. L., appar. from L. mimus ‘mime’ (because the plant seemingly mimics the sensitivity of an animal) + the fem. suffix -osa.
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