pussy willow
Definition of pussy willow
noun
- a willow with soft fluffy yellow or silvery catkins that appear before the leaves. Also called sallow2.
- Genus Salix, family Salicaceae: several species, in particular (in the US) the glaucous willow (S. discolor), and (in Britain) the goat willow (S. caprea) and grey willow (S. cinerea)
Origin:
mid 19th century: originally a child's word, because of the resemblance of the soft fluffy catkins to a cat's fur