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prettygoodwordshinleaf - n., any of a number of plants of the genus Pyrola of the heath family, especially Pyrola elliptica, with slender stalks, small, lustrous, evergreen basal leaves, and racemes of globular white or pinkish flowers.
An American name for a worldwide north temperate and subarctic group, dating from the 1810s. Pronounced SHIN-leef, as you might expect, but why is a mystery -- the best suggestion is from the use of its leaves in poultice for sore legs.
Meanwhile, according to the Forgotten English calendar (remember that?) today is the anniversary of a prohibition, passed by the English parliament in 1439, against kissing. Apparently done to control the plague.
---L.
An American name for a worldwide north temperate and subarctic group, dating from the 1810s. Pronounced SHIN-leef, as you might expect, but why is a mystery -- the best suggestion is from the use of its leaves in poultice for sore legs.
Meanwhile, according to the Forgotten English calendar (remember that?) today is the anniversary of a prohibition, passed by the English parliament in 1439, against kissing. Apparently done to control the plague.
---L.
