Jupiter's beard
noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A common name for various plants:; The red valerian, Centranthus ruber uncountable
- 2 silvery hairy European shrub with evergreen foliage and pale yellow flowers wordnet
- 3 A common name for various plants:; Aster linosyris, a European plant with yellow flowers. obsolete, uncountable
- 4 A common name for various plants:; The silverbush, Anthyllis barba-jovis, a European shrub with silvery leaves. uncountable
- 5 A common name for various plants:; The common houseleek, Sempervivum tectorum. uncountable
"1658: Thus […] nature […] somewhat after this manner hath ordered the bush in Jupiters''' beard, or houseleek; which old superstition set on the tops of houses, as a defensative against lightening, and thunder. — Sir Thomas Browne, The Garden of Cyrus (Folio Society 2007, p. 181)"
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- 6 A common name for various plants:; A white-edged fungus, Hyphodontia barba-jovis. uncountable
Example
More examples"1658: Thus […] nature […] somewhat after this manner hath ordered the bush in Jupiters''' beard, or houseleek; which old superstition set on the tops of houses, as a defensative against lightening, and thunder. — Sir Thomas Browne, The Garden of Cyrus (Folio Society 2007, p. 181)"
Etymology
Calque of Latin barba Iovis.