Page:Glossary of words in use in Cornwall.djvu/292

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A GLOSSilBT OF DEVONSHIRE PLANT NAMEa 23 Ever {Qf. Eavbr) Etbbiuoht, (1) Euphrasia officinalis^ L. (Prior, p. 74; Britten, p. 171.) (2) EpUobium angustifolium, L. (QT. Brioht-eye.) This latter flower is called ** Cat's-eyes " in some parts of EnglaiuL Feather Fern, Spinxa Japonica^ L., on account of its gmceftil feathery bunches of flowers. ^ FsATHTFEW, Pyretkrum PartJisnium, L., a name which, as Mr. Britten remarks, is written and pronounced in an ahnost endless variety of ways. Feverfew and Featherfew are the two most common English forms of the word, which is really a corroption of Febrifuga. (Prior, p. 76 ; Britten, p. 176 ; Earle, p. 12, &c.) We hear in Devon such forms as FeathyfEdl, Feathyfoy, Feathierfall, &c. Also with V for F, as Viwervaw, Vivvyvaw, &c. Fern, King, Osmunda regalis^ L., the royal fern. {Cf. Britten, p. 180.) Fern, Pabslet, Tanacetum vuLgarSy L. The leaf of Tansy is like parsley, but why it should be called fern is perhaps as difficult to say as in the case of the '* Feather Fern above. Fekn, EuiMiBAVBD, Asplenium Rutormurariay L. {Cf, Fern Paradise^ p. 410.) Fbrn, Scented, Tanacetum tndgare, L. Tansy. Fiddles, ScrophtUaria aquatica, L. {Of, Crowdy-kit above, and Britten, p. 181.) Fibld Daist, Chrysanthemum LeucantJieinum, L. Not that the Bdlis perennis, L., does not grow in fields, but the epithet here denotes " large,*' just as " horae " or " bull " might do. Figs. The common name in Devon and Somerset for raisins.

  • ^ Why do Devonians call raisins Jigs, and a plum-pudding fig-

pwddingV one asks in the Western Antiquary, i. 161. He is met by the counter question, '^Why do you speak of plum- pudding when you mean ramVpudding ?" Alas ! we shall never be able to regulate our speech by measure and line. {Cf, Britten, p. 182.) Fingers and Thumbs, Lotus cortdculatutf, L., or Cypripedium Caleeolus, L. Flags, Iris Pseudacorus and /. fostidtssima, L., with other plants having sword-like leaves. {Cf Britten, p. 186; Prior, p. 80.) Flap Dock, Flap-a-dook, Flappt Dock, Flapper Dock, Digitalis purpurea, L., Trans, Devon, Assoc, viL pp. 422, 476, Cf, Britten, p. 186, and the quotation from a letter by Mr. Briggs, ^' I knew an old countryman once who compared a prosy preacher to ' a drumble drane 'pon a flappadock.' " Flesh and Blood. The name of a certain kind of Apple. Flirtwort, Pyrethrum Parthemum^ L. A name wMch has apparently nearly died out, but which was common in South Devon sQme years ago as the designation of the Feverfew. Evidently