Adjacent Words

Cowslip definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

COWSLIP, COWS-LIP, n. A plant of the genus Primula, or primrose, of several varieties. The American cowship belongs to the genus Dodecatheon; the Jerusalem and mountain cowslip, to the genus Pulmonaria.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: early spring flower common in British isles having fragrant yellow or sometimes purple flowers [syn: cowslip, paigle, Primula veris]
2: swamp plant of Europe and North America having bright yellow flowers resembling buttercups [syn: marsh marigold, kingcup, meadow bright, May blob, cowslip, water dragon, Caltha palustris]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English cowslyppe, from Old English c?slyppe, literally, cow dung, from c? cow + slypa, slyppe paste Date: before 12th century 1. a common European primrose (Primula veris) with fragrant yellow flowers 2. marsh marigold

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a primula, Primula veris, with fragrant yellow flowers and growing in pastures. 2 US a marsh marigold. Etymology: OE cuslyppe f. cu COW(1) + slyppe slimy substance, i.e. cow-dung

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Cowslip Cow"slip` (-sl[i^]p`), n. [AS. c[=u]slyppe, c[=u]sloppe, prob. orig., cow's droppings. Cf. Slop, n.] (Bot.) 1. A common flower in England (Primula veris) having yellow blossoms and appearing in early spring. It is often cultivated in the United States. 2. In the United States, the marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), appearing in wet places in early spring and often used as a pot herb. It is nearer to a buttercup than to a true cowslip. See Illust. of Marsh marigold. American cowslip (Bot.), a pretty flower of the West (Dodecatheon Meadia), belonging to the same order (Primulace[ae]) with the English cowslip. French cowslip (Bot.), bear's-ear (Primula Auricula).

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Marsh marigold Marsh mar"i*gold (Bot.) A perennial plant of the genus Caltha (C. palustris), growing in wet places and bearing bright yellow flowers. In the United States it is used as a pot herb under the name of cowslip. See Cowslip.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(cowslips) A cowslip is a small wild plant with yellow, sweet-smelling flowers. N-COUNT