What is "sweet william"

Goldfinch \Gold"finch`\, n. [AS. goldfinc. See Gold, and Finch.] (Zo["o]l.)

1. A beautiful bright-colored European finch ( Carduelis elegans). The name refers to the large patch of yellow on the wings. The front of the head and throat are bright red; the nape, with part of the wings and tail, black; -- called also goldspink, goldie, fool's coat, drawbird, draw-water, thistle finch, and sweet William.

2. The yellow-hammer.

3. A small American finch ( Spinus tristis); the thistle bird.

   Note: The name is also applied to other yellow finches, esp. to several additional American species of Spinus.

Willow \Wil"low\, n. [OE. wilowe, wilwe, AS. wilig, welig; akin to OD. wilge, D. wilg, LG. wilge. Cf. Willy.]

1. (Bot.) Any tree or shrub of the genus Salix, including many species, most of which are characterized often used as an emblem of sorrow, desolation, or desertion. ``A wreath of willow to show my forsaken plight.''
   --Sir W. Scott. Hence, a lover forsaken by, or having lost, the person beloved, is said to wear the willow.

   And I must wear the willow garland For him that's dead or false to me.
   --Campbell.

2. (Textile Manuf.) A machine in which cotton or wool is opened and cleansed by the action of long spikes projecting from a drum which revolves within a box studded with similar spikes; -- probably so called from having been originally a cylindrical cage made of willow rods, though some derive the term from winnow, as denoting the winnowing, or cleansing, action of the machine. Called also willy, twilly, twilly devil, and devil. Almond willow, Pussy willow, Weeping willow. (Bot.) See under Almond, Pussy, and Weeping. Willow biter (Zo["o]l.) the blue tit. [Prov. Eng.] Willow fly (Zo["o]l.), a greenish European stone fly ( Chloroperla viridis); -- called also yellow Sally. Willow gall (Zo["o]l.), a conical, scaly gall produced on willows by the larva of a small dipterous fly ( Cecidomyia strobiloides). Willow grouse (Zo["o]l.), the white ptarmigan. See ptarmigan. Willow lark (Zo["o]l.), the sedge warbler. [Prov. Eng.] Willow ptarmigan (Zo["o]l.)

   1. The European reed bunting, or black-headed bunting. See under Reed.

   2. A sparrow ( Passer salicicolus) native of Asia, Africa, and Southern Europe.

      Willow tea, the prepared leaves of a species of willow largely grown in the neighborhood of Shanghai, extensively used by the poorer classes of Chinese as a substitute for tea.
      --McElrath.

      Willow thrush (Zo["o]l.), a variety of the veery, or Wilson's thrush. See Veery.

      Willow warbler (Zo["o]l.), a very small European warbler ( Phylloscopus trochilus); -- called also bee bird, haybird, golden wren, pettychaps, sweet William, Tom Thumb, and willow wren.

alt. A flowering plant, (taxlink Dianthus barbatus species noshow=1), in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to the mountains of southern Europe from the Pyrenees east to the Carpathians and the Balkans. n. A flowering plant, (taxlink Dianthus barbatus species noshow=1), in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to the mountains of southern Europe from the Pyrenees east to the Carpathians and the Balkans.

n. Eurasian pink widely cultivated for its flat-topped dense clusters of varicolored flowers [syn: Dianthus barbatus]

Sweet William is a 1980 British drama film directed by Claude Whatham and starring Sam Waterston, Jenny Agutter, Anna Massey, Arthur Lowe, Geraldine James, Daphne Oxenford, Tim Pigott-Smith and Melvyn Bragg. It is based on the 1975 novel of the same title by Beryl Bainbridge.

Sweet William is a 1975 novel written by Beryl Bainbridge, it was made into a 1980 film of the same name (starring Jenny Agutter and Sam Waterston) for which Bainbridge wrote the screenplay.

Sweet William is the eighteenth short story collection in the Just William series by Richmal Crompton. The book contains 10 short stories and was first published in 1936. It is illustrated by Thomas Henry.

The Stories are:

1. William and the Wonderful Present Robert is terrified that the necklace he's bought for his girlfriend's birthday present looks "too common".
2. William and the Perfect Child William acquires a horse.
3. William Helps the Cause Charmed by a beautiful lady who visits his school, William supports her "good cause" by faking his own kidnapping.
4. William and the Bugle William "borrows" a bugle from his brother Robert, only to have it confiscated by his history teacher. Anticipating his brothers wrath, William forms a plan to get it back.
5. William and the Policeman's Helmet William is thrilled to be invited to a party, the host of which possesses a "real policeman's helmet". He borrows it and foils a burglary.
6. William the Reformer Inspired by the anti-slavery reforms of Pitt and Wilberforce, William decides its time for some new reforms; namely Free Sweet Shops and Christmas Every Week.
7. St. Mars' Day The Outlaws are sick of celebrating St. Valentine's Day each year and decide it is time for a change.
8. Uncle Charlie and the Outlaws Hubert's childish uncle makes the Outlaws' lives miserable, but William has a plan to get even...
9. Pensions for Boys William reckons that the young deserve pensions as well as the old.
10. A Spot of Heroism A chance event on the way to the seaside makes William a hero. Unfortunately he doesn't stay one for long...

In particular the story 'Pensions for Boys' is notable for suggesting the location of the fictional village in which the stories are set (about 50 miles from London).

Category:1936 short story collections Category:Short story collections by Richmal Crompton Category:Children's short story collections Category:Just William