fingerflower: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / Obsolete / DialectalInformal, Archaic, Poetic, Dialectal
Quick answer
What does “fingerflower” mean?
A common name for plants in the Digitalis genus, especially Digitalis purpurea, characterized by tall spikes of tubular, often spotted, flowers.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A common name for plants in the Digitalis genus, especially Digitalis purpurea, characterized by tall spikes of tubular, often spotted, flowers.
A colloquial or folk name for foxglove, referring to the shape of its blossoms which can fit over a human fingertip. Sometimes used poetically.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both dialects. More likely to be encountered in British historical texts or regional dialects (e.g., West Country). In the US, it might appear in old herbalist literature.
Connotations
UK: archaic, countryside, cottage garden. US: obscure, old-fashioned, possibly from historical immigrant usage.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary usage. Largely supplanted by the standard term 'foxglove'.
Grammar
How to Use “fingerflower” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] fingerflower grew by the path.They called the foxglove a 'fingerflower'.A fingerflower, or Digitalis, is...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fingerflower” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The fingerflower patch was thriving.
- A fingerflower stem
American English
- The fingerflower patch was doing well.
- A fingerflower stalk
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used in formal scientific contexts; may appear in historical or philological studies of plant names.
Everyday
Virtually never used in modern everyday conversation.
Technical
Not a technical botanical term.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fingerflower”
- Using it as a current, standard term.
- Confusing it with other 'finger' plants like 'finger lime'.
- Assuming it's a widely recognized synonym.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is an archaic, dialectal, or folk name for the common foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), not a standard modern term.
In everyday conversation, it would likely cause confusion as 'foxglove' is the universally recognized name. It's best used only in specific historical, literary, or dialectal contexts.
The name comes from the shape of the individual tubular blooms, which are roughly the size and shape to fit over a human fingertip.
Yes. All parts of the Digitalis plant (foxglove/fingerflower) are highly toxic if ingested, though it is the source of the important heart medication digitalis.
A common name for plants in the Digitalis genus, especially Digitalis purpurea, characterized by tall spikes of tubular, often spotted, flowers.
Fingerflower is usually informal, archaic, poetic, dialectal in register.
Fingerflower: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɪŋɡəˌflaʊə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɪŋɡɚˌflaʊɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of putting your FINGER into the bell-shaped FLOWER of a foxglove.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLANT PARTS ARE BODY PARTS (the flower is shaped like a finger-covering).
Practice
Quiz
'Fingerflower' is best described as: