Edible preparation? No.

This one's a bugger, innit?

Human? No.

Animal = one particular species? Yes.

Emblematic? No. *some audience laughter*
Pre 1500? No.

A summary: This is ABSTRACT and MINERAL/VEGETABLE, with ANIMAL and VEGETABLE connections. The answer is three words, including a definite article, and begins with P immediately followed by a vowel. The abstract and mineral/vegetable are different descriptions of the same thing. The mineral/vegetable description is in part plastic (I think) and is manufactured. The abstract meaning is not figurative. The animal connection refers to one particular non-human species, and is not emblematic. The vegetable connection is connected to food but neither it, nor the overall answer, is a dish.

The answer is primarily or perhaps exclusively associated with the UK and dates from sometime after 1500. It is not art (except under a very broad definition), nor a method of cooking. It is not environmental, nor is it game-related.

Three questions provoked odd reactions from the audience, viz: "Passing the buck?", "Is it game-related?", and "Is the abstract meaning figurative? (E.g. the cat's whiskers)". The suggestions that it was art and that it was emblematic also provoked amusement.

Pink Panther? No *considerable audience applause, nonetheless*

Going from the particular to the general.

Fictional beast? Yes. *applause*

Once a novelty? No.

Twentieth Century? Yes.

A fearsome creature? *audience laughter* No, not fearsome.
Once a novelTV? Yes. *applause*

Is there a question mark missing?

Parsley the Lion? Yes! *hands over garnished baton*

---

Well, that was a surprisingly successfull de-lurk. Here's a plain old ABSTRACT

[Raak] 42? NO
[Tuj] The letter P? NOPE (nor does it begin therewith)
[Rosie] A human construct? YES

[Raak] Hot tongue action? NO (except inasmuch as all answers in this game do)

[IS,P] That was indeed what I first planned to put on the card! I was amused by Irouléguy's early guess of "Passing the buck" because, even though it was completely wrong, it had the right opening syllable (at least in some accents), the right structure, and an animal as the last word.

CdM] Completely wrong but structurally similar - story of my life, really...

[Phil] Osophy? NO is the best answer. * some applause *
[CdM] Sciencey-ness? NO, not really...
[Ig] Sport? NO
[Raak] Emotions? I GUESS SO.

[Rosie] Mental health? NO, not specifically
[Raak] Stoicism? NO * scattered but uncertain applause *

In retrospect, maybe the is-it-a-philosophy guess should have had * sustained and enthusiastic applause*