COWSLIP 



Cowslap, Cowslek, Cowslip, Cowslip Primrose, Cowslop, Cow's-mouth, 

 Cow-stripling, Cow-stropple, Crewel, Culverkeys, Fairy Cups, Galli- 

 gaskins, Gaskins, Herb Paralysy, Herb Peter, Lady keys, Lady's 

 Fingers, May Flower, Paigle, Cow Paigle, Palsywort, Passwort, Peter, 

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



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 Sunnes owne flower, Pagle, and Pinke, 

 that Decke fair Florses 

 bower." Professor Skeat 

 derives it from the French 

 paillole, Italian pagniola, a 

 spangle, the root being/>#z'//^, 

 straw, from Latin palea. 

 As to the name Palsywort, 

 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 be 

 good for pains in the joints. 



The name Cowslip is 

 supposed to be Cow's lip. 

 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 being 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 spots 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 



COWSLIP (Primula veris, L.) 



