Definition

Noun 1. A common name for the foxglove plant (Digitalis purpurea): A tall, leafy European biennial or perennial plant known for its striking, tubular, pink-purple flowers arranged in clusters. Its leaves are the source of the drug digitalis and are toxic to livestock and humans.

Usage Notes

• "Fairy bell" is a poetic or folk name for the foxglove, referencing the shape of its flowers which resemble small bells.
• This term is primarily used in British English and in literary or descriptive contexts about plants and folklore.
• The scientific and more common name is foxglove or Digitalis purpurea.
• Crucial Warning: Despite its attractive, fairy-tale name, all parts of the plant are highly poisonous.

Examples

• The hillside was dotted with the pink spires of fairy bells.
• In the old herbal, the plant was referred to as fairy bell due to the shape of its blossoms.
• Cautionary Example: Children should be taught not to pick fairy bells, as they are dangerous if ingested.

Advanced Usage

• The name "fairy bell" is often connected to folklore and fairy tales. It is said that fairies wear the flowers as gloves or hats, hence the more common name "foxglove."
• It can be used metaphorically to describe something deceptively beautiful but potentially dangerous.
  • His offer was a fairy bell—alluring on the surface but hiding a toxic core.

Variants and Related Words

• Foxglove (n): The standard common name for the same plant ().
• Digitalis (n):
  • The genus name for plants including the foxglove.
  • The medicinal drug derived from the leaves of these plants, used to treat heart conditions.
• Dead men's bells (n): Another folk name for the foxglove, emphasizing its toxicity.
• Fairy cap (n): A less common synonym, also referring to the flower's shape.

Synonyms

• Foxglove
• Digitalis (when referring to the plant genus)
• Folk names: Fairy cap, dead men's bells, witch's glove

Important Note

There is no direct phrasal verb or idiom formed with "fairy bell." It functions solely as a compound noun. The primary idioms and cautions are associated with its synonym, foxglove (e.g., "as poisonous as foxglove").

Noun

1. tall leafy European biennial or perennial having spectacular clusters of large tubular pink-purple flowers; leaves yield drug digitalis and are poisonous to livestock