# pappus

> English word · Noun · frequency rank #67,715

## Definitions
1. The markedly reduced sepals of an Asteraceae floret that take the form of trichomes or scale attached to the ovary or seed.
2. The first downy hairs that appear on the chin.

## Etymology
Via Latin pappus from Ancient Greek πάππος (páppos), an affectionate term for elderly men (referencing beards).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/pappus