English

Johnny-jump-up

From Johnny + jump + up.

A compound of Johnny + jump + up

Middle English jumpen ‘to walk quickly’

English jump

Proto-Germanic *upp ‘up’

Proto-West Germanic *upp

Old English upp

Middle English up ‘to a vertical axis’

English up

Today it means

noun Any of several violets or pansies.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Johnny-jump-up