lady-smock
Also lady's, ladies' smock.
A common name for the Cuckoo-flower, Cardamine pratensis. (Applied locally also to Convolvulus sepium.)
| 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. v. ii. 905 Ladie-smockes all siluer white. 1597 Gerarde Herbal ii. xviii. 203 They are commonly called in Latine, Flos Cuculi; in English Cuckowe flowers..at the Namptwich in Cheshire..Ladie smockes. 1648 Herrick Hesper. (1869) 121 Dispose That lady-smock, that pansie, and that rose Neatly apart. 1794 Martyn Rousseau's Bot. xxiii. 325 Ladies Smock, (forgive the vulgar name) has the calyx gaping a little. 1796 H. Hunter tr. St. Pierre's Stud. Nat. (1799) I. 83 Some of the convolvuluses, vulgarly called lady's-smock. 1874 T. Hardy Far from Madding Crowd I. 239 Clear white ladies' smocks. 1878 Browning Poets Croisic 96 Chains of lady's-smock. |