Definition of Bouncing Bess

1. Noun. Plant of European origin having pink or white flowers and leaves yielding a detergent when bruised.

Exact synonyms: Bouncing Bet, Hedge Pink, Saponaria Officinalis, Soapwort
Generic synonyms: Flower
Group relationships: Genus Saponaria, Saponaria

Lexicographical Neighbors of Bouncing Bess

bounced
bounced check
bounced off the walls
bouncedown
bouncedowns
bounceless
bouncer
bouncers
bounces
bounces off the walls
bouncier
bounciest
bouncily
bounciness
bouncing
bouncing Bess (current term)
bouncing Bet
bouncing Betties
bouncing Betty
bouncing betty
bouncing bomb
bouncing bombs
bouncing castle
bouncing castles
bouncing off the walls
bouncing putty
bouncingly
bouncy
bouncy ball
bouncy castle

Literary usage of Bouncing Bess

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Report and Transactions by Devonshire Association for the Advancement of Science, Literature and Art (1878)
"bouncing Bess (= Valerian = Valeriana ... there a scarce plant, and required care; and that it, as well as the white variety, was known as bouncing Bess. ..."

2. Publications by Musical Antiquarian Society (1842)
"Commend me to black Luce, bouncing Bess, and lusty Kate, and the other pretty morsels of man's flesh. Farewell, pink and pinnace, ..."

3. The Anatomy of Melancholy: What it is with All the Kinds, Causes, Symptoms by Robert Burton (1883)
"... jolly Joan, nimble Nell, kissing Kate, bouncing Bess, with black eyes, fair Phillis, with fine white hands, fiddling Frank, tall Tib, slender Sib, &c., ..."

4. Publications by Shakespeare Society (Great Britain) (1853)
"Commend me to black Luce, bouncing Bess, and lusty Kate, and the other pretty morsels of man's flesh. Farewell, pink and pinnace, ..."

5. The Anatomy of Melancholy: What it Is, with All the Kinds, Causes, Symptoms by Robert Burton (1862)
"... sweet-singing Susan, mincing, merry Moll, dainty dancing Doll, neat Nancy, jolly Joan, nimble Nell, kissing Kate, bouncing Bess, with black Juno's, ..."

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