Cowslip

Alternative forms

• cowslippe obsolete

Origin

From Middle English cowslyppe, from Old English cūslyppe ("cowslip"), from cū ("cow") + slyppe ("paste, viscid substance"), related to Old English slūpan ("to slip, glide, move softly"). Compare oxlip.

Full definition of cowslip

Noun

1. A low-growing plant, , with yellow flowers.
• 1610, , by William Shakespeare, act 5 scene 1Where the bee sucks, there suck I:In a cowslip's bell I lie;
2. (North America, regional) A plant in the buttercup family, Caltha palustris, growing in wet, boggy locations.

Synonyms

• (Primula veris) paigle, herb Peter
• (Caltha palustris) marsh marigold, kingcup, mayflower, mollyblobs, pollyblobs, horse blob