A flower designed to be held in the hand, such as a corsage, boutonniere, or a type of ornamental flower jewelry.
Compound word from 'hand' and 'flower' (Old English 'flōwer'). The term describes flowers specifically chosen or arranged to fit comfortably in a person's hand rather than displayed in a vase.
Handflowers became fashionable in Victorian times when ladies wore elaborate corsages and posies called 'tussie-mussies'—each flower was chosen for its secret symbolic meaning, turning a bouquet into a coded love message only those versed in 'flower language' could decode.
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