cowslip

cowslip
    n 1: early spring flower common in British isles having fragrant
         yellow or sometimes purple flowers [syn: {cowslip},
         {paigle}, {Primula veris}]
    2: swamp plant of Europe and North America having bright yellow
       flowers resembling buttercups [syn: {marsh marigold},
       {kingcup}, {meadow bright}, {May blob}, {cowslip}, {water
       dragon}, {Caltha palustris}]
    

marsh marigold \marsh mar"i*gold\ (m[aum]rsh
   m[a^]r"[i^]*g[-o]ld). (Bot.)
   A perennial plant of the genus {Caltha} ({Caltha palustris}),
   growing in wet places and bearing bright yellow flowers. In
   the United States it is used as a pot herb under the name of
   {cowslip}. See {Cowslip}.
   [1913 Webster]
    

Marigold \Mar"i*gold\, n. [Mary + gold.] (Bot.)
   A name for several plants with golden yellow blossoms,
   especially the {Calendula officinalis} (see {Calendula}), and
   the cultivated species of {Tagetes}.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: There are several yellow-flowered plants of different
         genera bearing this name; as, the {African marigold} or
         {French marigold} of the genus {Tagetes}, of which
         several species and many varieties are found in
         gardens. They are mostly strong-smelling herbs from
         South America and Mexico: {bur marigold}, of the genus
         {Bidens}; {corn marigold}, of the genus {Chrysanthemum}
         ({Chrysanthemum segetum}, a pest in the cornfields of
         Italy); {fig marigold}, of the genus
         {Mesembryanthemum}; {marsh marigold}, of the genus
         {Caltha} ({Caltha palustris}), commonly known in
         America as the {cowslip}. See {Marsh Marigold}.
         [1913 Webster]

   {Marigold window}. (Arch.) See {Rose window}, under {Rose}.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Cowslip \Cow"slip`\ (-sl[i^]p`), n. [AS. c[=u]slyppe,
   c[=u]sloppe, prob. orig., cow's droppings. Cf. {Slop}, n.]
   (Bot.)
   1. A common flower in England ({Primula veris}) having yellow
      blossoms and appearing in early spring. It is often
      cultivated in the United States.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. In the United States, the marsh marigold ({Caltha
      palustris}), appearing in wet places in early spring and
      often used as a pot herb. It is nearer to a buttercup than
      to a true cowslip. See Illust. of {Marsh marigold}.
      [1913 Webster]

   {American cowslip} (Bot.), a pretty flower of the West
      ({Dodecatheon Meadia}), belonging to the same order
      ({Primulace[ae]}) with the English cowslip.

   {French cowslip} (Bot.), bear's-ear ({Primula Auricula}).
      [1913 Webster]