Is 'margery' a standard English word for 'daisy'?

No. It is an archaic and dialectal term. The standard modern word is 'daisy'.

Can 'Margery' be a person's name?

Yes. It is a historical variant of the feminine given name Marjorie.

Would an American English speaker understand 'margery'?

Highly unlikely, unless they have a specific interest in historical English dialects or botany.

Is it spelled with a capital M?

When used as the flower name, it is typically lowercase ('margery daisy'). As a given name, it is capitalised ('Margery').

Is “margery” formal?

Margery is usually dialectal, archaic, literary in register.

How do you pronounce “margery”?

Margery: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːdʒ(ə)ri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːrdʒəri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

margery: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very Low/Archaic

UK/ˈmɑːdʒ(ə)ri/US/ˈmɑːrdʒəri/

Dialectal, Archaic, Literary

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “margery” mean?

An archaic, chiefly British dialect word for the daisy, Bellis perennis.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

An archaic, chiefly British dialect word for the daisy, Bellis perennis.

In historical/folk usage, a name for the common daisy. Also used as a feminine given name.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

The word is a British dialect term. It is virtually unknown and unused in modern American English, except perhaps in very specialized historical or botanical contexts.

Connotations

In the UK, it carries connotations of rural life, folk tradition, and antiquity. In the US, if recognized at all, it is seen as a highly obscure archaism.

Frequency

Extremely rare in modern UK usage, limited to specific dialects or deliberate archaisms. Effectively extinct in everyday American English.

Grammar

How to Use “margery” in a Sentence

the + Margery + (daisy/daw)a + patch + of + margeries

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

margery dawmargery daisy

medium

pretty margerymeadow margery

weak

field of margeriespick margeries

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used.

Academic

Rarely used in historical linguistics, dialectology, or botanical history.

Everyday

Not used in modern standard English.

Technical

Not used in modern botany; the standard term is 'Bellis perennis' or 'common daisy'.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “margery”

Strong

bruisewort

Neutral

daisycommon daisylawn daisy

Weak

gowan (Scottish)

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “margery”

Using it as a modern synonym for 'daisy'.
Capitalising it when referring to the flower (it can be lowercase).
Assuming it is a standard English word.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No. It is an archaic and dialectal term. The standard modern word is 'daisy'.
: Yes. It is a historical variant of the feminine given name Marjorie.
: Highly unlikely, unless they have a specific interest in historical English dialects or botany.
: When used as the flower name, it is typically lowercase ('margery daisy'). As a given name, it is capitalised ('Margery').
: An archaic, chiefly British dialect word for the daisy, Bellis perennis.
: Margery is usually dialectal, archaic, literary in register.
: Margery: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːdʒ(ə)ri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːrdʒəri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“To turn one's Margery (obsolete: to become foolish)”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

MARGERY rhymes with 'daizy' (daisy) – think of a girl named Margery picking daisies.

Conceptual Metaphor

N/A - An object/concrete noun.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

In the old Dorset dialect, the common lawn flower was often called a ' daw'.

Multiple Choice

What is the primary modern status of the word 'margery' (meaning daisy)?