Wallflower (people)

In social situations, a wallflower is a slang term used to describe shy or unpopular individuals who do not socialize or participate in activities at social events. It is most often used to describe someone who stays close to a wall and out of the main area of social activity.

The term originated from ballroom dances, where the people who did not wish to dance (or had no partner) remained close to the walls of the dance hall, blending in with flowers on the wallpaper.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary (2nd ed), the first known usage of the term in this sense was in an 1820 poem entitled "County Ball" by Winthrop Mackworth Praed .

It was originally used to refer to women, and only in the context of dances; more recently the term has been expanded to include men and other social gatherings.

Literary reference

The book "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky is about a young boy who is a shy awkward high school freshman. In this book the term is used in a slightly different sense, but with a fairly similar meaning.