176 
A DICTIONARY OF 
Feather, Feathered, or Feathering Columbine. See Columbine, 
Feathered. 
Feathered Gillofers. Dianthus x>lumariiis, L. — Lyte. From the 
deeply-fringed petals. 
Featherfew. This is one of the two most distinct forms (the other 
being Feverfew) of the popular name for Pyretlirum Partlienium, L., 
a name which is written and pronounced in an almost endless variety 
of ways. Prior (p. 75) considers it a confusion with Featherfoil 
{Hottonia palustris, L.), but the two plants do not at all resemble each 
other. It is really a corruption of febrifuga, one of the old names of 
the plant mentioned by Parkinson (Theatr. p. 84) , who adds : ‘ From 
whence I thinke our English name Featherfew or Feaverfew is derived, 
it being good to expell feavers or agues.’ In one form or another the 
name is in very general use. In Turn. Lib. it is spelt Fetherfew, in 
Prompt. Parv. Fedyrfoy, in Ger. Fedderfew, in Langham’s Garden 
of Health Feverfue, and in Lawson’s Country Housewife’s Garden 
Fetherfewell and Fetherfewle. The name has come to us from 
different districts in different spellings, of which the following are the 
principal: — Featherfoy, Glou. ; Featherfeuil, Yks. ; Featherfewl, 
, Cumh. (Winderwath), Yks. (Whitby, E. D. S. Gloss, C. 2); Feather- 
fold, West (Hal. Wr.); Featherfooly, E. Bord. (Bot. E. Bord.), 
Roxhurghsh. (Kelso, Science Gossip, 1876, p. 39); Featherfowl, Hal. 
Wr., Dors.; Yks.; Featherfowlie, Scotl. ; Featherfull, F. Bord. 
(Bot. E. Bord.) (in E. D. S. Gloss. C. 5 (Mul-Yks.) this name is 
assigned to ‘ the herb rue,’ but probably the Pyrethrum is meant) ; 
Fedderfew, Lyte ; Fetherbow, E. Cornw. ; Fetherfalil, Yks. (Wake- 
field Gloss.); Fetherfoe, Hal. Wr. ; Feverefox, MS. Sloane, Hal. 
Wr. ; Feverfoullie, Scotl. (Jamieson) ; Featherwheelie, N. Scotl. 
(Jamieson); Fitherfew, Sal. 
Feather-foil. Hottonia palustris, Y. — Prior, p. 75; Cumh. (Wincler- 
wath). From its beautiful feathery leaveg. Also called Bog Feather- 
foil. 
Feather Grass. Stipa pennata, L. — AYith. ed. ii. Prior, p. 75. 
Feathertop Grass. Calamagrostis Epigejos, Eoth. — Ger. Emac. 
p. 10. 
Featherwheelie. See Featherfew. 
Fech. ‘Vetches. Nominale MS.’ — Hal. Wr. 
Fedderfew. See Featherfew. 
Fedyrfoy. See Featherfew. 
Feern. Fern. — Clies. 
Feist. ‘A puff-ball.’ — Svff. Hal. Wr. Probably Lycopendon 
Bovista, L. See Bullfeist. 
Fel Broom. See Broom, Feal. 
Feldwood. ‘The herb baldmoney.’ 
‘ Tho took sche feldwod and verveyne. 
Of herbis be not betir tweyne.’ 
Gower, MS. Soc. Antiq. 134, f. 152. — Hal. Wr. 
Probably a species of Gcrdiana. See Faldircney (2) and Felwort. 
