COWSLIP 



71 



Cowslap, Cowsiek, Cowslip, Cowslip Primrose, Cowslop, Cow's-moulh, 

 Cow-stripliii;^", Covv-stro[)plu. Crewel, CulvL-rkeys, F;iiry Cups, Galli- 

 gaskins, Gaskiiis, Herb Paralysy, Herb Peicr, I.a(lyke\s, i^atU's 

 Fingers, May I""lower, Paigie, Cow PaigU;, Palsywori, Passwori, Peter, 

 Petty Mullein, Plaggis, Plum-rocks, St. Pctcrwort. 



Paigle is a name given to several different plants, and several 

 sayings are current in connection with it in different parts. 



" The yellow marigold, the Sunncs ownc (lower, Paglc. ,ind Pinko, 

 that Decke fair Flones 

 bower." Professor Skeat 

 derives it from the French 

 pail/olc. Itali.ui pao^)tio/a. a 

 spangle, the root being/«//A-, 

 straw, from Latin palca. 

 As to the name Palsy wort, 

 Gerarde says: "They are 

 thought to be good against 

 the paines of the joints and 

 sinewes", and "A conserve 

 made with the flowers . . . pre- 

 vaileth woonderfully against 

 the palsie. " Artetyke is a 

 corruption of Arthritica, a 

 name given because the 

 Cowslip was supposed to !)<■ 

 good for pains in the joints. 



The name Cowslip is 

 supposed to be Cow's lip. Ciusni' (/'w" v.; .. ;/ , 1, ) 



In Yorkshire it is called 



Cooslop from Keslop, the prepared stomach of a calf used as rennet, 

 and the wrinkled leaves and calyx were connected with that of the 

 calf's stomach. 



It is called Herb Peter because the flowers resemble a bunch of 

 keys, the badge of St. Peter. Ariel is pictured by Shakespeare 

 reclining in a "Cowslip's bell", the crimson spots l)eing called "Gold 

 Coasts Spots", — "these be rubies fairy favours". 



It is the Key-flower in Germany. An ointment was formerly made 

 of the flowers for the complexion, and supposed to take away s[)ots by 

 the Doctrine of Signatures. 



Quite recently a writer said: "The village Damsels use it as a 

 cosmetic, and we know it adds to the beauty of the complexion of 





