fairy bell
noun

- any of various plants having somewhat bell-shaped flowers, as the foxglove, and any of several plants of the genus Digitalis.

- a type of percussion instrument consisting of several small bells joined in a row and attached to a handle.

Your Dictionary / Lexico

—
ORIGINS

c. 1300, fairie, “the country or home of supernatural or legendary creatures; fairyland”, also “something incredible or fictitious”, from Old French faerie “land of fairies, meeting of fairies; enchantment, magic, witchcraft, sorcery” (12c.), from fae “fay,” from Latin fata “the Fates,” plural of fatum “that which is ordained; destiny, fate”.

The Foxglove derives its common name from the shape of the flowers resembling the finger of a glove. It was originally Folksglove - the glove of the ‘good folk’ or fairies, whose favourite haunts were supposed to be in the deep hollows and woody dells, where the Foxglove delights to grow.

There is a northern legend that bad fairies gave these blossoms to the fox that he might put them on his toes to soften his tread when he prowled among the chicken roosts.

The mottlings of the blossoms of the Foxglove and the Cowslip, like the spots on butterfly wings and on the tails of peacocks and pheasants, were said to mark where the elves had placed their fingers.

—
SYNONYMS
for fairy

pixie, sprite, elf, elfin, leprechaun, fay, fey, fae, faerie, faery, imp, nymph, pixy, nixie, spirit, puck, sylph, enchanter, genie, jinni, mermaid, siren, dryad, wood nymph, apparition, oceanid, spright, sylphid, nymphet, nymphette, water nymph, free spirit, undine, Robin Goodfellow, little people

—
SYNONYMS
for fairy bells

Digitalis, purple foxglove, witches’ gloves, dead men’s bells, thimbles, fairy cap, fairy glove, fairy thimbles, fairy finger, fairybells, dog’s-finger, finger flower, lady’s-glove, lady’s-finger, lady’s-thimble, popdock, flapdock, flopdock, lion’s-mouth, rabbit’s-flower, cottagers, throatwort, Scotch mercury, bloody fingers, virgin’s glove

—
SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“Take care touching FAIRY BELL flowers,... the plant is beautiful but poisonous.”

—
HERZLICHEN DANK to all readers helping me keep OWAD alive with single or monthly donations at:

https://donorbox.org/please-become-a-friend-of-owad-3

Paul Smith